Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: February 15, 2008
When you read, are you a "one-at-a-timer" or a "scatter shot reader?" Do you sit in one favorite chair to read, or do you have a book with you wherever you go and read wherever you are? Do you stick with one genre or are your tastes eclectic? Is reading how you escape from life or what you do to engage with the world by gathering information? Readers come in all styles, types, and habits. But, whatever way you read, you probably recognize that were it not for reading, life would be much poorer for the lack.
A friend of mine refers to the television as the haunted fish tank and at times, it seems such an apt title - not much to see but the same old stuff and very little to get out of the experience. For myself, I watch TV almost out of necessity and would prefer the experience of reading, whether the written page or information I find on the Internet. Of course, the Internet has its own dangers, but if you know how to find pages that offer accurate and timely information, you can avoid much of the same sort of mind rot you find on the television.
National Public Radio has a frequent contributor named Nancy Pearl, librarian, action figure and book "luster." She touts books, some whose theme is travel. Her descriptions can tickle the fancy of any avid reader, and hopefully, set nonreaders on the path to becoming hooked on the book. Monthly, we receive a publication called Book Page, a book review paper in tabloid format. You can see the readers pouring over the pages of each new edition as soon as it comes in. The New York Times Book Review, their Best Seller List, and a host of other sources provide opinions and insights into one book or another, all in an effort to get you to read whatever it is they are hawking. The din and clamor of those that love books is almost so deafening as to make reading impossible.
What is this fascination for the words of others? Why are readers so intent on their immersion into the worlds, real or otherwise, within the printed pages? Is there a cure for this, or is a cure even needed?
I believe it comes from the primeval experience of hearing stories around the fire, when an elder would attempt to explain the world around the listener with the mythic tales of a tribe's forebears. Or maybe it is simply a matter of our trying to recall the wonderful moments in our youth when a parent would read to us and we would disappear into the stories they would impart. Of course, there are probably plenty of other theories for why people read – as many as there are readers, I daresay.
My home is becoming a clutter of books, piled willy nilly on shelves, bedside tables, coffee tables, and counters. In my world, all horizontal surfaces are there simply to stock with books. My wife wonders why I don't just use my library card, rather than bringing home more to add to the heaps. In spite of my doing just that, the stacks continue to grow – thank goodness I am a woodworker and am now building more bookcases! Cold comfort to my wife who fears an avalanche!
Both of my sons read, and if I only impart that skill to them, I can consider myself a good father, at least in my own mind! I have gone to homes that don't have books lying around and those places creep me out. I am starting to see that same reaction in my boys – more evidence of good parenting, eh?
In the end, for readers reading is second nature. For non-readers, it is an exercise that simply escapes them. I am not even sure that you can turn an inveterate non-reader into an avid reader – it seems that it is something you are trained to from an early age. Certainly, many of my library colleagues will disagree, but I have my suspicions. It is a real concern on the part of librarians that the future may bring fewer readers and libraries as we know them will disappear. I doubt it, myself. Just look at a true reader. One might suspect that even after they die, they will find a way to have a small light and a book in the grave with them. Imagine the overdue fines, though!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: February 8, 2008
As part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations here at Sedona Public Library, we are presenting a weekly program called Reading on the Red Rocks. These are Meet the Author programs presented every Friday, either in the evening, or during the Noon hour as a Brown Bag Lunch series. The presenters will be local, regional, national, and children’s authors. The programs are free, but as the ads on television say, “priceless.”
This past week, Tucson author Nancy Turner who wrote These Is My Words, The Star Garden and other titles gave the kickoff program for the series and she was absolutely charming and entertaining. During her program, she made an intriguing statement that caught my attention. She said, “Stories bear the truth we really want to tell.” Her point, it seemed, was that often we tell stories that bear out experiences we have had without having to tell the more difficult first hand story. The story in its “fictional” guise allows the writer to speak to their own life or that of another they know by keeping at something of an arm’s length.
Ms. Turner read from her latest novel, The Star Garden, with passages that truly came alive both from her skilled reading, but from having recently made that point above. While the tale is that of her great grandmother, fictionalized, Turner made the point that many of the things in the tale we either her experiences or her hoped-for experiences.
Additionally, Turner spoke to details of how she writes that was very informative, as well as entertaining. It was a great evening and one that bodes well for the entire series.
It is the success of that first evening that really prompts me to encourage you to attend future programs. Friday, February 8th is a Noon hour presentation by James Endredy about his book Beyond 2012, and the following week is local author Mary Ross Smith with her personal memoir, Soul Survivor. Throughout our series, you can learn in advance who will be presenting by picking up a free bookmark at the Circulation desk, checking our events calendar or picking up a paper copy of that calendar here at the Library. Don’t miss one of these programs as I am sure they will all be fascinating.
One another note, entirely, the Friends of the Library on-line sales project needs more volunteers, now that there are two computers available for listing books. This new aspect of the Friends’ book sales has grown in its success over the past months. Essentially, books of considerable value that would not otherwise sell for high dollars in the monthly or twice-yearly sales are offered online to special collectors. The returns from these sales have been significant and offer the Friends a wonderful new avenue for obtaining the funds that support this Library. With nearly two pickup trucks full of books being donated weekly, the number of exceptional books grows and grows. More hands are needed and the work is really pretty interesting.
Requirements are enthusiasm for on-line sales, minimal level of computer literacy (e.g. experience with e-mail or surfing the web), and love of books. Previous on-line selling experience is wonderful, but not necessary. If you are interested and will to help out, email the Friends of Sedona Library Online Book Sales at sedonafossilz@yahoo.com. We really can use your help.
Over the past few months, a group has met weekly on Fridays to discuss personal investing. While not the Beardstown Women sort of thing, the group gathers to discuss their investing strategies, ideas, successes and failures. There is no fee to join and there is no need to attend every meeting. But, if you would like to participate in this informal gathering, the Investment Strategy group meets Fridays at 11 AM in the Quiet Study room. Come try it out.
There is so much going on here at Sedona Public Library. Be sure to check out our online Calendar of Events or pick up a copy of the calendar when you visit us next.
There are author presentations planned throughout the year, so be sure to visit the Library's Events Calendar on our website (www.sedonalibrary.org) and mark your calendar. Much more is planned throughout the year. Don't miss a single program.
Red Rock News
Date: February 8, 2008
As part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations here at Sedona Public Library, we are presenting a weekly program called Reading on the Red Rocks. These are Meet the Author programs presented every Friday, either in the evening, or during the Noon hour as a Brown Bag Lunch series. The presenters will be local, regional, national, and children’s authors. The programs are free, but as the ads on television say, “priceless.”
This past week, Tucson author Nancy Turner who wrote These Is My Words, The Star Garden and other titles gave the kickoff program for the series and she was absolutely charming and entertaining. During her program, she made an intriguing statement that caught my attention. She said, “Stories bear the truth we really want to tell.” Her point, it seemed, was that often we tell stories that bear out experiences we have had without having to tell the more difficult first hand story. The story in its “fictional” guise allows the writer to speak to their own life or that of another they know by keeping at something of an arm’s length.
Ms. Turner read from her latest novel, The Star Garden, with passages that truly came alive both from her skilled reading, but from having recently made that point above. While the tale is that of her great grandmother, fictionalized, Turner made the point that many of the things in the tale we either her experiences or her hoped-for experiences.
Additionally, Turner spoke to details of how she writes that was very informative, as well as entertaining. It was a great evening and one that bodes well for the entire series.
It is the success of that first evening that really prompts me to encourage you to attend future programs. Friday, February 8th is a Noon hour presentation by James Endredy about his book Beyond 2012, and the following week is local author Mary Ross Smith with her personal memoir, Soul Survivor. Throughout our series, you can learn in advance who will be presenting by picking up a free bookmark at the Circulation desk, checking our events calendar or picking up a paper copy of that calendar here at the Library. Don’t miss one of these programs as I am sure they will all be fascinating.
One another note, entirely, the Friends of the Library on-line sales project needs more volunteers, now that there are two computers available for listing books. This new aspect of the Friends’ book sales has grown in its success over the past months. Essentially, books of considerable value that would not otherwise sell for high dollars in the monthly or twice-yearly sales are offered online to special collectors. The returns from these sales have been significant and offer the Friends a wonderful new avenue for obtaining the funds that support this Library. With nearly two pickup trucks full of books being donated weekly, the number of exceptional books grows and grows. More hands are needed and the work is really pretty interesting.
Requirements are enthusiasm for on-line sales, minimal level of computer literacy (e.g. experience with e-mail or surfing the web), and love of books. Previous on-line selling experience is wonderful, but not necessary. If you are interested and will to help out, email the Friends of Sedona Library Online Book Sales at sedonafossilz@yahoo.com. We really can use your help.
Over the past few months, a group has met weekly on Fridays to discuss personal investing. While not the Beardstown Women sort of thing, the group gathers to discuss their investing strategies, ideas, successes and failures. There is no fee to join and there is no need to attend every meeting. But, if you would like to participate in this informal gathering, the Investment Strategy group meets Fridays at 11 AM in the Quiet Study room. Come try it out.
There is so much going on here at Sedona Public Library. Be sure to check out our online Calendar of Events or pick up a copy of the calendar when you visit us next.
There are author presentations planned throughout the year, so be sure to visit the Library's Events Calendar on our website (www.sedonalibrary.org) and mark your calendar. Much more is planned throughout the year. Don't miss a single program.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: February 1, 2008
Friday, January 25th offered the kickoff for a year of celebrations for the Sedona Public Library's 50th Anniversary Year. The Sedona Heritage Museum opened its display on the history of the Library at the Jordan Road Museum. With 50 years of service to the community, the display provides a window into both the Library's and Sedona's history. During the next four months, this display offers an historic timeline of the Library and coinciding world events. There are examples of tools of the library trade from an earlier time and even a charming reading corner that includes books that were on the best sellers list from 1958. Please take the time to visit the museum to see this window into Sedona's and the Library's past.
Today, the 1st of February, you can take part in the very first of the Library's year-long author series when Nancy Turner comes to the Library at 6:00 PM. Ms. Turneer is the author of the book The Star Garden, the third book in the series of an historical family saga with strong female characters. Through diligent research of one of the West's most exciting eras and with a rich family history to rely on, Nancy Turner has created another page-turning historical family saga of the Old West.
The program is free, but copies of Ms. Turner's books will be available for sale and signing. Come and take part in this initial offering in a year-long series of events.
Be sure to mark your calendar to attend the second event in the series, too. Continuing the 2008 50th Anniversary Sedona Public Library Celebration weekly Author Series, James Endredy will be discussing his latest book, Beyond 2012: A Shaman's Call to Personal Change and the Transformation of Global Consciousness, on Friday, February 8, 2008 at Noon at the Library. The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Si Birch Community Room. Copies of Mr. Endredy's latest book will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation.
James Endredy will be speaking and answering questions about the material from his previous books: Earthwalks for Body and Spirit: Exercises to Restore Our Sacred Bond with the Earth, The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer: A Huichol Indian Story, Ecoshamanism: Sacred Practices of Unity, Power, and Earth Healing, as well as his just released book, Beyond 2012: A Shaman's Call to Personal Change and the Transformation of Global Consciousness.
James Endredy is a teacher, mentor, and guide to thousands of people through his books and workshops. After a series of life tragedies and mystical experiences as a teenager he changed direction from his Catholic upbringing and embarked on a life-long spiritual journey to encounter the mysteries of life and death and why we are all here. For over twenty-five years he has learned shamanic practices from all over the globe, while also studying with kawiteros, lamas, siddhas, roadmen, and leaders in the modern fields of ecopsychology, bioregionalism, and sustainable living. James also worked for ten years with Mexican shamanic researcher Victor Sanchez learning to share shamanic practices with modern people. On a daily level, his experiences have inspired him to live a sustainable lifestyle as much as possible while still working within mainstream society. He writes, leads workshops, mentors private clients, visits schools and community centers, speaks at bookstores, and volunteers in his community. His books have thus far been published in four languages. James is also a National Forest Service permitted guide.
And finally, mark your calendars for the arrival on February 15th of Sedona author Mary Ross Smith as she presents her book, Soul Survivor. This is the memoir of Mary's life growing up in Los Angeles. The program is at 6:00 PM in the Si Birch Community Room.
There are author presentations planned throughout the year, so be sure to visit the Library's Events Calendar on our website (www.sedonalibrary.org) and mark your calendar. Much more is planned throughout the year. Don't miss a single program.
Weekly Author Series
Fridays – 90 Minutes
February 8th
Noon
James Endredy
Beyond 2012
Nature/Hiking
Red Rock News
Date: February 1, 2008
Friday, January 25th offered the kickoff for a year of celebrations for the Sedona Public Library's 50th Anniversary Year. The Sedona Heritage Museum opened its display on the history of the Library at the Jordan Road Museum. With 50 years of service to the community, the display provides a window into both the Library's and Sedona's history. During the next four months, this display offers an historic timeline of the Library and coinciding world events. There are examples of tools of the library trade from an earlier time and even a charming reading corner that includes books that were on the best sellers list from 1958. Please take the time to visit the museum to see this window into Sedona's and the Library's past.
Today, the 1st of February, you can take part in the very first of the Library's year-long author series when Nancy Turner comes to the Library at 6:00 PM. Ms. Turneer is the author of the book The Star Garden, the third book in the series of an historical family saga with strong female characters. Through diligent research of one of the West's most exciting eras and with a rich family history to rely on, Nancy Turner has created another page-turning historical family saga of the Old West.
The program is free, but copies of Ms. Turner's books will be available for sale and signing. Come and take part in this initial offering in a year-long series of events.
Be sure to mark your calendar to attend the second event in the series, too. Continuing the 2008 50th Anniversary Sedona Public Library Celebration weekly Author Series, James Endredy will be discussing his latest book, Beyond 2012: A Shaman's Call to Personal Change and the Transformation of Global Consciousness, on Friday, February 8, 2008 at Noon at the Library. The program, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Si Birch Community Room. Copies of Mr. Endredy's latest book will be available for purchase and signing following the presentation.
James Endredy will be speaking and answering questions about the material from his previous books: Earthwalks for Body and Spirit: Exercises to Restore Our Sacred Bond with the Earth, The Journey of Tunuri and the Blue Deer: A Huichol Indian Story, Ecoshamanism: Sacred Practices of Unity, Power, and Earth Healing, as well as his just released book, Beyond 2012: A Shaman's Call to Personal Change and the Transformation of Global Consciousness.
James Endredy is a teacher, mentor, and guide to thousands of people through his books and workshops. After a series of life tragedies and mystical experiences as a teenager he changed direction from his Catholic upbringing and embarked on a life-long spiritual journey to encounter the mysteries of life and death and why we are all here. For over twenty-five years he has learned shamanic practices from all over the globe, while also studying with kawiteros, lamas, siddhas, roadmen, and leaders in the modern fields of ecopsychology, bioregionalism, and sustainable living. James also worked for ten years with Mexican shamanic researcher Victor Sanchez learning to share shamanic practices with modern people. On a daily level, his experiences have inspired him to live a sustainable lifestyle as much as possible while still working within mainstream society. He writes, leads workshops, mentors private clients, visits schools and community centers, speaks at bookstores, and volunteers in his community. His books have thus far been published in four languages. James is also a National Forest Service permitted guide.
And finally, mark your calendars for the arrival on February 15th of Sedona author Mary Ross Smith as she presents her book, Soul Survivor. This is the memoir of Mary's life growing up in Los Angeles. The program is at 6:00 PM in the Si Birch Community Room.
There are author presentations planned throughout the year, so be sure to visit the Library's Events Calendar on our website (www.sedonalibrary.org) and mark your calendar. Much more is planned throughout the year. Don't miss a single program.
Weekly Author Series
Fridays – 90 Minutes
February 8th
Noon
James Endredy
Beyond 2012
Nature/Hiking
Friday, January 18, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: January 18, 2008
In most columns, I get to brag about the Library – the services, our volunteers, an upcoming program. This week, sadly, I have to put on my “parent” hat as I announce a change regarding some of our youth attendees. If you are yourself the parent of a young person who is regularly using the Sedona Public Library after school, this column is directed specifically towards you.
It is with considerable regret and frustration that I inform you of a change of practice at Sedona Public Library. Over many months, the Library has dealt with young children who come here after school, but do not use it in an appropriate manner. They have spent their time outside the building, clearly not using the resources for which the Library was intended. Rather, they are hanging out and getting into trouble. Repeated discussions with those students creating the disturbances, as well as clear warnings have not yielded any changes in behavior. On Friday, January 11th, the front porch was thoroughly trashed with tree limbs, sticks, and garbage. Four branches on a recently planted apple tree were also damaged.
As a result, any student who is not using the Library for its intended purpose, any student who is using the Library as a hangout location will be told that they must leave the property. That means all the way down to the end of White Bear Road and Dry Creek Road.
Acceptable uses of the Library are reading, doing homework, using the computers, and attending programs when offered. Using the Library as a hangout is not an acceptable use. Please be informed that your child will be asked to leave the Library property and what once was considered a safe place to leave them after school will no longer be available.
Young people who use the Library in an appropriate manner will always be welcome. If your child is using the Library as it should be used, they should feel no compunctions about coming here and continuing those habits.
This is not a short term change, but intended as our procedure from here forward. Sadly, the Library does not have sufficient money to provide the young users of the Library with a regular program of after school activities, so their use of the facility will be limited to those activities noted above.
I am sorry that the actions of a dozen or so young people warrant this change, but repeated warnings have failed to produce a result. As Director, I ask that you speak with your child and instruct them as to the proper use of this resource. Better yet, please come to the Library with your child and model appropriate behavior, coupled with the lesson of consequences when that behavior does not meet acceptable standards.
Please feel free to discuss this with me should you see the need. Thank you.
On another more positive note, my previous column covered the upcoming events surrounding the Sedona Public Library’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations. As noted, we will be presenting weekly author presentations throughout the year. To keep you informed, you will find information on the Library’s website under the link to Events Calendar. In addition, I will be running a box at the end of each week’s column noting the presentation slated for the coming week. Be sure to check that box, mark your calendar and attend the events we will be offering.
Weekly Author Series
Fridays – 90 Minutes
February 1st
6:00 PM
Nancy Turner
The Star Garden
Historical Fiction
This column is also presented on: Gateway to Sedona and Sedona Biz
Red Rock News
Date: January 18, 2008
In most columns, I get to brag about the Library – the services, our volunteers, an upcoming program. This week, sadly, I have to put on my “parent” hat as I announce a change regarding some of our youth attendees. If you are yourself the parent of a young person who is regularly using the Sedona Public Library after school, this column is directed specifically towards you.
It is with considerable regret and frustration that I inform you of a change of practice at Sedona Public Library. Over many months, the Library has dealt with young children who come here after school, but do not use it in an appropriate manner. They have spent their time outside the building, clearly not using the resources for which the Library was intended. Rather, they are hanging out and getting into trouble. Repeated discussions with those students creating the disturbances, as well as clear warnings have not yielded any changes in behavior. On Friday, January 11th, the front porch was thoroughly trashed with tree limbs, sticks, and garbage. Four branches on a recently planted apple tree were also damaged.
As a result, any student who is not using the Library for its intended purpose, any student who is using the Library as a hangout location will be told that they must leave the property. That means all the way down to the end of White Bear Road and Dry Creek Road.
Acceptable uses of the Library are reading, doing homework, using the computers, and attending programs when offered. Using the Library as a hangout is not an acceptable use. Please be informed that your child will be asked to leave the Library property and what once was considered a safe place to leave them after school will no longer be available.
Young people who use the Library in an appropriate manner will always be welcome. If your child is using the Library as it should be used, they should feel no compunctions about coming here and continuing those habits.
This is not a short term change, but intended as our procedure from here forward. Sadly, the Library does not have sufficient money to provide the young users of the Library with a regular program of after school activities, so their use of the facility will be limited to those activities noted above.
I am sorry that the actions of a dozen or so young people warrant this change, but repeated warnings have failed to produce a result. As Director, I ask that you speak with your child and instruct them as to the proper use of this resource. Better yet, please come to the Library with your child and model appropriate behavior, coupled with the lesson of consequences when that behavior does not meet acceptable standards.
Please feel free to discuss this with me should you see the need. Thank you.
On another more positive note, my previous column covered the upcoming events surrounding the Sedona Public Library’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations. As noted, we will be presenting weekly author presentations throughout the year. To keep you informed, you will find information on the Library’s website under the link to Events Calendar. In addition, I will be running a box at the end of each week’s column noting the presentation slated for the coming week. Be sure to check that box, mark your calendar and attend the events we will be offering.
Weekly Author Series
Fridays – 90 Minutes
February 1st
6:00 PM
Nancy Turner
The Star Garden
Historical Fiction
This column is also presented on: Gateway to Sedona and Sedona Biz
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: January 11, 2008
When I was but a boy, anyone beyond their teen years was REALLY old! Now that I grow longer in the tooth, such big numbers are less daunting, especially when they are smaller numbers than my current age of 56. So, when I say that the Sedona Public Library is turning 50 this year, I believe we are still just a pup!
In 1958, a small group of interested Sedonans banded together to put a small collection of books on some shelves in the local Chamber of Commerce building on Jordan Road. From that modest beginning, the Library has grown and grown to the place we know on White Bear Road. Much has changed since those days, not the least of which is the roster of interested folks, but through the years the Library has served the community in a number of ways, ranging from a resource for books to a large collection of books, audiovisual materials, magazines and even downloadable books. The Internet has certainly impacted the way we serve Sedona and the fact that the Library offers hundreds of programs each year and acts as one of the main community centers in town stands in sharp contrast to that original small bookcase.
This year, we will be celebrating the Sedona Public Library’s 50th Anniversary of serving Sedona with the theme of “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future.” With this theme, we will recognize the considerable history we hold in town and look with equal excitement towards the many new ways we will serve our users and the entire community.
To kick off the year-long celebration, the Sedona Heritage Museum and the Sedona Public Library are partnering for a new exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary. The new exhibit will be on display at the Museum from January 25th until mid-May 2008. It will officially open with a reception on Friday, January 25th from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Museum. The opening event is free and open to the public, which includes free Museum admission during that first hour.
Highlights of the exhibit will be a timeline of world events and Sedona Library milestones from 1958-2008, an old card file catalog system next to an operational and live computer set-up where participants will be able to access the Library’s current on-line catalog system, and a reading area with 1950s era books and magazines. A sampling of art pieces from the Library’s 2007 “Books Transformed” created by Sedona Visual Artists Coalition members will also be on display along with a “memory chain” activity. Visitors to the show will have a chance to add to this chain their city/state with materials provided. Several items planned for display have been loaned by the Jerome Public Library, the Sedona Creative Life Center and long-time Sedona Public Library members and volunteers.
In conjunction with the exhibit, the Sedona Heritage Museum plans a special talk by an original Library volunteer, Faith Fuller, for February 27th. Faith will share stories of the earliest days of the library. More details will be released later. This special exhibit at the Sedona Heritage Museum is just one of many special activities and events planned by the Library throughout the year in celebration of their anniversary.
The Society Historical Society operates the Sedona Heritage Museum on the Jordan Farmstead at 735 Jordan Rd in Uptown Sedona, AZ. The Museum is open daily at 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-7038. Visit the Society's website at www.sedonamuseum.org.
Finally, to repeat information from last week’s “Library News” column, the quilts are here and they look gorgeous! Be sure to take the time and tour the display to see the superb detail work of local quilters whose work ranges from large format, bed-size versions to small lap quilts and even smaller ones that can be viewed in the display case. In the grey days of January, the quilts are a wonderful and colorful antidote.
Red Rock News
Date: January 11, 2008
When I was but a boy, anyone beyond their teen years was REALLY old! Now that I grow longer in the tooth, such big numbers are less daunting, especially when they are smaller numbers than my current age of 56. So, when I say that the Sedona Public Library is turning 50 this year, I believe we are still just a pup!
In 1958, a small group of interested Sedonans banded together to put a small collection of books on some shelves in the local Chamber of Commerce building on Jordan Road. From that modest beginning, the Library has grown and grown to the place we know on White Bear Road. Much has changed since those days, not the least of which is the roster of interested folks, but through the years the Library has served the community in a number of ways, ranging from a resource for books to a large collection of books, audiovisual materials, magazines and even downloadable books. The Internet has certainly impacted the way we serve Sedona and the fact that the Library offers hundreds of programs each year and acts as one of the main community centers in town stands in sharp contrast to that original small bookcase.
This year, we will be celebrating the Sedona Public Library’s 50th Anniversary of serving Sedona with the theme of “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future.” With this theme, we will recognize the considerable history we hold in town and look with equal excitement towards the many new ways we will serve our users and the entire community.
To kick off the year-long celebration, the Sedona Heritage Museum and the Sedona Public Library are partnering for a new exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary. The new exhibit will be on display at the Museum from January 25th until mid-May 2008. It will officially open with a reception on Friday, January 25th from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Museum. The opening event is free and open to the public, which includes free Museum admission during that first hour.
Highlights of the exhibit will be a timeline of world events and Sedona Library milestones from 1958-2008, an old card file catalog system next to an operational and live computer set-up where participants will be able to access the Library’s current on-line catalog system, and a reading area with 1950s era books and magazines. A sampling of art pieces from the Library’s 2007 “Books Transformed” created by Sedona Visual Artists Coalition members will also be on display along with a “memory chain” activity. Visitors to the show will have a chance to add to this chain their city/state with materials provided. Several items planned for display have been loaned by the Jerome Public Library, the Sedona Creative Life Center and long-time Sedona Public Library members and volunteers.
In conjunction with the exhibit, the Sedona Heritage Museum plans a special talk by an original Library volunteer, Faith Fuller, for February 27th. Faith will share stories of the earliest days of the library. More details will be released later. This special exhibit at the Sedona Heritage Museum is just one of many special activities and events planned by the Library throughout the year in celebration of their anniversary.
The Society Historical Society operates the Sedona Heritage Museum on the Jordan Farmstead at 735 Jordan Rd in Uptown Sedona, AZ. The Museum is open daily at 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-7038. Visit the Society's website at www.sedonamuseum.org.
Finally, to repeat information from last week’s “Library News” column, the quilts are here and they look gorgeous! Be sure to take the time and tour the display to see the superb detail work of local quilters whose work ranges from large format, bed-size versions to small lap quilts and even smaller ones that can be viewed in the display case. In the grey days of January, the quilts are a wonderful and colorful antidote.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: January 4, 2008
The holidays are over and often at this time of year something of a doldrums sets in. The nights are still dark for a long time and the ground is yielding little, even in our mild climate. For some, this time of year can be pretty depressing. Your Sedona Public Library is here to offer a bit of light and color in the form of the annual quilt display. If you need a pick-me-up, come to the Library and revel in the exquisite examples of this fabric art in its highest form.
For the past thirteen years, first under the guidance of Marg Elson and now new owner Patty Krause, the Quilters Store here in Sedona has assembled a quilt show of the very finest quilts created with loving care by local quilters. Each year brings new versions of this old art form with never a repeat. To be honest, when I look at these gorgeous quilts, I can only imagine the time it would take me to make one – probably a year or more. But, each year, local thread mavens often construct more than one, each nearly perfect in its execution!
Take a look at each quilt and notice the details of its construction. Stitching is exacting, points of fabric designs come together point to point perfectly, colors blend to create images that are almost photographic – the art of quilting is indeed a high art when you see the examples here at the Library.
Some quilts are fun, some are arty. Some are big and others are small. There are quilts for children, quilts that are dedicated to someone as a memorial. Some use traditional patterns and some are a single image such as a flower or a forest. All together, there are 62 in the display, hanging from the rafters in both the main room of the Library as well as the Si Birch Community Room, and even in our display cases.
A funny thing that happens when the quilts are hanging. People come to see them and they pick up a copy of the show’s catalog. Reading it and then craning their necks upward to view each quilt puts a fair number of folks on a collision course with one another. In its own odd way, it is a form of “meet and greet” occasion as people view, collide and apologize!
Quilts have a varied history and uses. For some, they are a way to simply stay warm in bed at night. For others, they are an art form and a crafty activity in their making. But, you may not be aware of their part in the history of our nation’s progress from a slave-holding society to one in which all people are free.
During the days of the Underground Railroad, quilts served as road signs and a form of communication between organizers of the freedom road and those who traveled along its length. Some quilts announced safe haven for travelers, others signaled the route to travel. Some designs would “speak” of danger on one side of the quilt, and when turned over, tell that the way was clear. This form of “signage” was hung on clothes lines, on window sills, or over fences to inform anyone savvy enough to know the ways in which the quilts spoke. Some of these signpost quilts are treasured family heirlooms, and the patterns of many stand as testaments to the determination of average people to overcome adversity while working towards freedom for others. Whether people know the history behind the designs, many continue to be made even to this day.
Sedona Public Library offers numerous books and videos on the techniques and art of quilting, as well as the part they played in our nation’s history. Quilting books are found by doing a simple search on the term “quilts” or even “Underground Railroad.” No matter whether you wish to learn about their history, learn new techniques and designs, or simply to admire examples of the fabric arts, the books in our collection can provide you with hours of reading and viewing pleasure.
Take a bit of time to visit the Sedona Public Library between now and Friday, February 15th to view the quilt display. Even after 13 years of showings here, there is always something new to see. Enjoy the superb skills of those who have made them, as well as the colorful antidote to the dark days of winter they offer. Visit your Sedona Public Library today. Just watch where you’re going as you walk around!
Red Rock News
Date: January 4, 2008
The holidays are over and often at this time of year something of a doldrums sets in. The nights are still dark for a long time and the ground is yielding little, even in our mild climate. For some, this time of year can be pretty depressing. Your Sedona Public Library is here to offer a bit of light and color in the form of the annual quilt display. If you need a pick-me-up, come to the Library and revel in the exquisite examples of this fabric art in its highest form.
For the past thirteen years, first under the guidance of Marg Elson and now new owner Patty Krause, the Quilters Store here in Sedona has assembled a quilt show of the very finest quilts created with loving care by local quilters. Each year brings new versions of this old art form with never a repeat. To be honest, when I look at these gorgeous quilts, I can only imagine the time it would take me to make one – probably a year or more. But, each year, local thread mavens often construct more than one, each nearly perfect in its execution!
Take a look at each quilt and notice the details of its construction. Stitching is exacting, points of fabric designs come together point to point perfectly, colors blend to create images that are almost photographic – the art of quilting is indeed a high art when you see the examples here at the Library.
Some quilts are fun, some are arty. Some are big and others are small. There are quilts for children, quilts that are dedicated to someone as a memorial. Some use traditional patterns and some are a single image such as a flower or a forest. All together, there are 62 in the display, hanging from the rafters in both the main room of the Library as well as the Si Birch Community Room, and even in our display cases.
A funny thing that happens when the quilts are hanging. People come to see them and they pick up a copy of the show’s catalog. Reading it and then craning their necks upward to view each quilt puts a fair number of folks on a collision course with one another. In its own odd way, it is a form of “meet and greet” occasion as people view, collide and apologize!
Quilts have a varied history and uses. For some, they are a way to simply stay warm in bed at night. For others, they are an art form and a crafty activity in their making. But, you may not be aware of their part in the history of our nation’s progress from a slave-holding society to one in which all people are free.
During the days of the Underground Railroad, quilts served as road signs and a form of communication between organizers of the freedom road and those who traveled along its length. Some quilts announced safe haven for travelers, others signaled the route to travel. Some designs would “speak” of danger on one side of the quilt, and when turned over, tell that the way was clear. This form of “signage” was hung on clothes lines, on window sills, or over fences to inform anyone savvy enough to know the ways in which the quilts spoke. Some of these signpost quilts are treasured family heirlooms, and the patterns of many stand as testaments to the determination of average people to overcome adversity while working towards freedom for others. Whether people know the history behind the designs, many continue to be made even to this day.
Sedona Public Library offers numerous books and videos on the techniques and art of quilting, as well as the part they played in our nation’s history. Quilting books are found by doing a simple search on the term “quilts” or even “Underground Railroad.” No matter whether you wish to learn about their history, learn new techniques and designs, or simply to admire examples of the fabric arts, the books in our collection can provide you with hours of reading and viewing pleasure.
Take a bit of time to visit the Sedona Public Library between now and Friday, February 15th to view the quilt display. Even after 13 years of showings here, there is always something new to see. Enjoy the superb skills of those who have made them, as well as the colorful antidote to the dark days of winter they offer. Visit your Sedona Public Library today. Just watch where you’re going as you walk around!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: December 28, 2007
Fifteen hundred each day – that is the number of World War II veterans that are passing away each day. During the week prior to Christmas, one of three surviving World War I vets, aged 109 years, passed on leaving only two such vets alive. This irreplaceable trove of knowledge of America’s history at war deserves preservation. Sedona Public Library is participating in the Veterans History Project, a national effort to collect this history and preserve it at the Library of Congress and the American Folklife Center, but we need help to do this important work.
The mission of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress is to collect the memories, accounts, and documents of war veterans from World War I, World War II, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars, and to preserve these stories of experience and service for future generations.
By “veterans,” that means all veterans, men and women, those who served in war and in support of combat operations, all ranks in all branches of service – the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. That also includes the Merchant Marine, those involved in home front activities and citizens who supported the armed services. The first priority is to focus on the most senior veterans and those who served in support of them, especially those from World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.
James Billington, Librarian of Congress said, “We owe our wartime veterans a profound appreciation for their sacrifice and service to our nation and its future. We also owe all our citizens an opportunity to appreciate and honor those men and women who have protected our nation in the gravest of times. Together, with the help of all Americans, we can honor our war veterans and create a lasting body of documentary materials that will inform and educate our citizens in the decades ahead.”
The Sedona Public Library’s Board of Trustees have determined that Sedona Public Library shall serve as a participating partner in the Veterans History Project, whose intent is to honor our nation’s war veterans and those who served in support of them. This is done by collecting their stories. In so doing, we will assist in creating a lasting legacy of recorded interviews and other documents chronicling veterans’and other citizens’ wartime experiences and how those experiences affected their lives and America itself.
Your Library has assembled a cadre of volunteers who regularly meet to interview veterans, videotaping them and then passing the information on to the Library of Congress. The veteran receives a copy of the interview and a copy goes on to the American Folklife Center for archiving. These interviews are the personal testimonies of the war experience of the vets and their families.
The material is to be made available to anyone who cares to research it via the Library of Congress. If you have access to the Internet, visit the Veterans History Project site at www.loc.gov/folklife/vets. By searching that site, you can learn more about the project itself, search for individual interviewees and even read their interviews and see documents and photographs.
To date, the Sedona Library’s volunteer team has gathered more than 30 interviews, and there are at least 50 more interviewees waiting their turn. They are a dedicated and active cadre, but they are shorthanded. That’s where you come in.
We need the help of people who see this work as vital. Help is needed to do the actual interviews (there is training for this portion, in case you think you would have no idea how to proceed), running the video and audio equipment during the interviews, assisting with completion of the necessary forms, and other tasks. The time necessary to do these tasks is adjustable, ranging from a few hours per week to whatever you care to provide. The need is great based on the rate of loss of our World War II veterans and the number of new veterans arriving home each day.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony J. Principi says, “I urge all Americans to participate in the Veterans History Project. Capturing stories of those who served in uniform in their own words will provide the inspiration future generations will need when it is their turn to defend the nation Abraham Lincoln once called ‘the last best hope on earth.’”
If you are a veteran, or know a veteran, or anyone who fits the description above, encourage them to tell their story by contacting your Sedona Public Library.
Please consider giving your time to this vital national archiving project. You can experience the extreme gratification of helping preserve history, as well as the gratitude of the soldiers who are finally able to tell and preserve their stories. Call the Sedona Public Library to sign up. Make it your New Years resolution to help!
Red Rock News
Date: December 28, 2007
Fifteen hundred each day – that is the number of World War II veterans that are passing away each day. During the week prior to Christmas, one of three surviving World War I vets, aged 109 years, passed on leaving only two such vets alive. This irreplaceable trove of knowledge of America’s history at war deserves preservation. Sedona Public Library is participating in the Veterans History Project, a national effort to collect this history and preserve it at the Library of Congress and the American Folklife Center, but we need help to do this important work.
The mission of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress is to collect the memories, accounts, and documents of war veterans from World War I, World War II, and the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars, and to preserve these stories of experience and service for future generations.
By “veterans,” that means all veterans, men and women, those who served in war and in support of combat operations, all ranks in all branches of service – the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. That also includes the Merchant Marine, those involved in home front activities and citizens who supported the armed services. The first priority is to focus on the most senior veterans and those who served in support of them, especially those from World Wars I and II, and the Korean War.
James Billington, Librarian of Congress said, “We owe our wartime veterans a profound appreciation for their sacrifice and service to our nation and its future. We also owe all our citizens an opportunity to appreciate and honor those men and women who have protected our nation in the gravest of times. Together, with the help of all Americans, we can honor our war veterans and create a lasting body of documentary materials that will inform and educate our citizens in the decades ahead.”
The Sedona Public Library’s Board of Trustees have determined that Sedona Public Library shall serve as a participating partner in the Veterans History Project, whose intent is to honor our nation’s war veterans and those who served in support of them. This is done by collecting their stories. In so doing, we will assist in creating a lasting legacy of recorded interviews and other documents chronicling veterans’and other citizens’ wartime experiences and how those experiences affected their lives and America itself.
Your Library has assembled a cadre of volunteers who regularly meet to interview veterans, videotaping them and then passing the information on to the Library of Congress. The veteran receives a copy of the interview and a copy goes on to the American Folklife Center for archiving. These interviews are the personal testimonies of the war experience of the vets and their families.
The material is to be made available to anyone who cares to research it via the Library of Congress. If you have access to the Internet, visit the Veterans History Project site at www.loc.gov/folklife/vets. By searching that site, you can learn more about the project itself, search for individual interviewees and even read their interviews and see documents and photographs.
To date, the Sedona Library’s volunteer team has gathered more than 30 interviews, and there are at least 50 more interviewees waiting their turn. They are a dedicated and active cadre, but they are shorthanded. That’s where you come in.
We need the help of people who see this work as vital. Help is needed to do the actual interviews (there is training for this portion, in case you think you would have no idea how to proceed), running the video and audio equipment during the interviews, assisting with completion of the necessary forms, and other tasks. The time necessary to do these tasks is adjustable, ranging from a few hours per week to whatever you care to provide. The need is great based on the rate of loss of our World War II veterans and the number of new veterans arriving home each day.
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony J. Principi says, “I urge all Americans to participate in the Veterans History Project. Capturing stories of those who served in uniform in their own words will provide the inspiration future generations will need when it is their turn to defend the nation Abraham Lincoln once called ‘the last best hope on earth.’”
If you are a veteran, or know a veteran, or anyone who fits the description above, encourage them to tell their story by contacting your Sedona Public Library.
Please consider giving your time to this vital national archiving project. You can experience the extreme gratification of helping preserve history, as well as the gratitude of the soldiers who are finally able to tell and preserve their stories. Call the Sedona Public Library to sign up. Make it your New Years resolution to help!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)