Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: June 13, 2008
"Stop walking around with your head down!" This was a pretty common refrain from my mother when I was younger. "Look up, look up.! The whole world's passing you by and you're going to miss it if you keep looking at your feet." While these were sage words and I have taken them to heart, there are times to look down in order to learn more. Sedona Public Library's collection of Oversized books is the perfect example of how looking down will lead you to greater knowledge and understanding.
The Library's shelves are all set to a pretty regular spacing between them, but not all books are the same size. Therefore, whenever we add a book that is larger than the average item, we shelve it at the bottom of the appropriate shelf where it would otherwise be located.
Books are published in an oversized format because the subject matter deserves more "real estate" to do it justice. Examples would be books on art or photography. Sometimes, the design of a book just cannot be given a worthwhile treatment in a smaller format. It is a serious commitment on the part of a publisher to actually publish a book in such large format because the costs are higher, typically fewer people purchase them and even libraries find it difficult to justify their purchase because most people tend to overlook the oversized items.
Here are a few examples of stunning and interesting books published in oversized format that are currently on our shelves in the new book section. Just remember, there are oversized books throughout the entire collection so look around.
With a strikingly unusual cover designed to look like stone brick work, Monuments: America's History in Art and Memory, by Judith Dupre is well worth reading and viewing. Published in black and white images, Dupre examines national monuments from the Alamo to Gettysburg, from Mount Rushmore to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This tour de force of our nation's history told in the form of tributes to those who participated in that history, "it tells the stories of real people, the ordinary and the renowned, whose lives, though immortalized, exist most fully in the mind and heart." If offers stories, illustrations, interviews with artists and architects, as it tells the story of our nation written in stone.
One other reason for claiming a book as oversized is that the book is heavy! Phaidon Publishing has produced a massive tome entitled 30,000 Years of Art, as thorough and impressive a collection as one is likely to find between two covers of a book. Stunningly provided with photographs of the thousands of examples cited, it covers all cultures, both past and present, with an image of the artwork and its description, one per page. Offered in chronological order, it is a work of great importance because no other published item is as comprehensive. Take it home, but you may need a teenager to help you carry it!
The world is changing, both environmentally and politically, and one way to keep track of those changes is to refer to an atlas. The new Oxford Atlas of the World is as up to date as anything we own and well worth the look. The maps are clear and current based on political changes, but also includes stunning photography from space. The information within its covers is also updated providing a worthwhile reference.
Focusing more narrowly on only the oceans, National Geographic has published Planet Ocean: Voyage to the Heart of the Marine Realm. The introduction was written by Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques the famous oceanographer. This is more of a "coffee table book" full of photographs taken with the latest films and techniques. They bring out the wonder and mystery of the ocean depths, while informing and entertaining. The oceans face great challenges and the Cousteau family has made it their life's work to chronicle these, informing us of the impact we are all having on the largest and most vital resource on our planet.
Oversized books are well worth the look. You won't seem them on the higher shelves, though. Instead, keep your head down to find them throughout the Library. And if your Mom tells you to keep your head up, just show her what you are looking at. I am sure she will agree that this one time was well worth it!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: June 6, 2008
School is out! Summer temperatures are climbing and kid's are at loose ends for the next three months! Few things can strike fear into the heart's of parents as well as that. Parents are looking for ways to keep them occupied, ensure that their minds remain active and that they don't lose the skills acquired during the school year. Sedona Public Library offers some great news for anyone faced with this challenge – Summer Reading Program!
Every year, the Library offers reading-related activities for children from 2 to 18 years of age through the Summer Reading Program. This year's theme is Catch the Reading Bug. The Program runs from May 31st to August 9th and there are lots of fun activities, programs, and reading planned for children. And if the kids are a bit reluctant, just tell them that there are no reports to write and no required number of books to read. Summer Reading should be fun and our Youth Services Library has a great summer planned. This program is funded directly by the Friends of the Sedona Library through memberships and funds raised at the book sales they so ably put on every year.
Every child participating in this program does need to register, but there is no cost and registration takes only a few minutes. We ask for the child's name, age, and contact information (so they can be invited to the end-of-Summer party), as well as their goal for reading throughout the summer. After that, things are on automatic.
As the child reads throughout the summer, they track the number of hours spent reading, using a form we provide for this purpose. The more hours, the more opportunities for prizes and the cooler the prizes, too. In addition, there are many programs scheduled that provide kids of all ages with activities and information on the topic of insects. There are cooking classes, a beekeeper, a program on growing worms, sing-alongs, spiders, storytellers, a handwriting analysis program and much more. Throughout the entire summer, kids will find lots to do here at Sedona Public Library.
In spite of all the great programs, the ultimate goal is to encourage children to read and to maintain their reading skill set. Our Youth Services Librarian, Pam Comello, has worked tirelessly to build a collection of books, videos, DVDs, books on CD and tape and much more for readers of all ages. Whether you child is just listening as others read to them, or deeply engrossed in reading, they will find lots to keep them reading that will hold their interest.
Take for example the Read-Along books we offer parents of children only just starting to read. These clever books include one page for the child to read and one page for the adult to read. These two pages face one another and give the child the opportunity to mirror the behavior of the older reader, thereby further cementing the reading skill set in them.
From there up in age, we offer so many excellent titles. We have a wonderful Young Adult section for teens who might not otherwise be caught dead in a library, reading. We offer titles in English and Spanish, a bi-lingual reading tool that will encourage both reading and speaking skills. The list of the various types of books we offer would take almost this entire column. It should suffice to say that the collection we offer to child readers is extensive, up to date, and very interesting to all styles of readers. You only need to bring your child over, make sure that they have their own library card, and then turn them lose to find what interests them. If they are unsure of themselves in the Library, staff is all able to help them in finding the perfect read.
By the way, just as with the Read-Along titles, parents can model reading skills regardless of the child's age. All you need is a book, a specific time that you call family reading time, then turn off the television, find a comfy chair with good lighting, and you're off to a great start. We even had books on how to create a family reading time in our Parenting section!
Keep your kids involved with reading all summer long. Sign them up for our Summer Reading program and help them develop the lifelong habit of reading, the very best tool for success!
Red Rock News
Date: June 6, 2008
School is out! Summer temperatures are climbing and kid's are at loose ends for the next three months! Few things can strike fear into the heart's of parents as well as that. Parents are looking for ways to keep them occupied, ensure that their minds remain active and that they don't lose the skills acquired during the school year. Sedona Public Library offers some great news for anyone faced with this challenge – Summer Reading Program!
Every year, the Library offers reading-related activities for children from 2 to 18 years of age through the Summer Reading Program. This year's theme is Catch the Reading Bug. The Program runs from May 31st to August 9th and there are lots of fun activities, programs, and reading planned for children. And if the kids are a bit reluctant, just tell them that there are no reports to write and no required number of books to read. Summer Reading should be fun and our Youth Services Library has a great summer planned. This program is funded directly by the Friends of the Sedona Library through memberships and funds raised at the book sales they so ably put on every year.
Every child participating in this program does need to register, but there is no cost and registration takes only a few minutes. We ask for the child's name, age, and contact information (so they can be invited to the end-of-Summer party), as well as their goal for reading throughout the summer. After that, things are on automatic.
As the child reads throughout the summer, they track the number of hours spent reading, using a form we provide for this purpose. The more hours, the more opportunities for prizes and the cooler the prizes, too. In addition, there are many programs scheduled that provide kids of all ages with activities and information on the topic of insects. There are cooking classes, a beekeeper, a program on growing worms, sing-alongs, spiders, storytellers, a handwriting analysis program and much more. Throughout the entire summer, kids will find lots to do here at Sedona Public Library.
In spite of all the great programs, the ultimate goal is to encourage children to read and to maintain their reading skill set. Our Youth Services Librarian, Pam Comello, has worked tirelessly to build a collection of books, videos, DVDs, books on CD and tape and much more for readers of all ages. Whether you child is just listening as others read to them, or deeply engrossed in reading, they will find lots to keep them reading that will hold their interest.
Take for example the Read-Along books we offer parents of children only just starting to read. These clever books include one page for the child to read and one page for the adult to read. These two pages face one another and give the child the opportunity to mirror the behavior of the older reader, thereby further cementing the reading skill set in them.
From there up in age, we offer so many excellent titles. We have a wonderful Young Adult section for teens who might not otherwise be caught dead in a library, reading. We offer titles in English and Spanish, a bi-lingual reading tool that will encourage both reading and speaking skills. The list of the various types of books we offer would take almost this entire column. It should suffice to say that the collection we offer to child readers is extensive, up to date, and very interesting to all styles of readers. You only need to bring your child over, make sure that they have their own library card, and then turn them lose to find what interests them. If they are unsure of themselves in the Library, staff is all able to help them in finding the perfect read.
By the way, just as with the Read-Along titles, parents can model reading skills regardless of the child's age. All you need is a book, a specific time that you call family reading time, then turn off the television, find a comfy chair with good lighting, and you're off to a great start. We even had books on how to create a family reading time in our Parenting section!
Keep your kids involved with reading all summer long. Sign them up for our Summer Reading program and help them develop the lifelong habit of reading, the very best tool for success!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: May 30, 2008
June 6th, 1994 was a Monday. That was the day on which the Sedona Public Library opened its doors to business upon completion of the new library building on White Bear Road. It was a bit daunting to open the place on D-Day, but the day went forward without any major hitches and years of effort to build a new library that would be source of pride for Sedona became a reality. On June 6, 2008, Sedona Public Library will celebrate 50 Years of service to the community when we host a special party in honor of both that anniversary and the opening of the building, fourteen years prior.
The celebrations will include a rededication of the Sedona Schnebley statue in front of the Library, the City's first piece of public art in its collection of Art in Public Places. There will be other celebrations including presentations by Senator Tom O'Halleran, the current Mayor Sedona, and others. There will be a display of the Library's history and much more, including refreshments served by the Friends of the Library. It should be a fun and informative day.
The party runs from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and is open to all. Please note that the Library will close for preparations at 2:00 PM on that day.
In honor of that special day, both the State of Arizona and the City of Sedona have proclaimed June 6th as "Sedona Public Library Day." Governor Napolitano's proclamation reads, "The Sedona Public Library has been an outstanding advocate for freedom through knowledge fro the citizens and visitors of Sedona and all the citizens of Yavapai and Coconino Counties. On behalf of the citizens of the State of Arizona, I offer my sincere thank you for all that you do for the community. Best wishes for success in all the anniversary events and in all future endeavors."
The City of Sedona Proclamation reads,
"WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on June 6, 2008; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library patrons, donors, Friends of the Library, volunteers, staff and Board of Trustees are to be congratulated on 50 years of outstanding service; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library has been an outstanding advocate for freedom through knowledge for the citizens of Sedona, visitors to Sedona and all citizens of Yavapai and Coconino counties; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library recognizes the ongoing significance of our public library as central to the quality of life and education of families and their children; and the equality of opportunity and access to a global world for the entire community that the Sedona Public Library stands for; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library continues to fulfill its mission to enrich the lives of Sedona-area residents and to help them and our community succeed by providing information services that are affordable, responsive, efficient and enjoyable, and by serving as a center for community activities, and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library has been an essential partner to the City of Sedona,
NOW, Therefore, I, Pud Colquitt, Mayor of the City of Sedona, on behalf of the entire City Council and Staff do hereby proclaim Friday, June 6, 2008 as
SEDONA PUBLIC LIBRARY DAY in the City of Sedona offering our best wishes as the Sedona Public Library celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The Sedona Public Library has stood as a central feature of Sedona for 50 years. It grew from a set of three shelves of books in the uptown section to a newly built structure on Jordan Road in 1968, to the impressive edifice on White Bear Road, its present location, in 1994. It has served as library, community center, public forum, and entertainment and information center for Sedona's citizens and visitors, alike. Having been built of donated funds entire, and donated labor for much of the work, it stands as a testament of the value and importance of community pulling together to create a much needed resource.
We the Staff, Volunteers, Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library are all exceedingly proud to have the opportunity to offer a space that serves our community so effectively. Please come and take part in our 50th Anniversary celebration on June 6, 2008 at 3:00 PM. We'd love to see you there.
Red Rock News
Date: May 30, 2008
June 6th, 1994 was a Monday. That was the day on which the Sedona Public Library opened its doors to business upon completion of the new library building on White Bear Road. It was a bit daunting to open the place on D-Day, but the day went forward without any major hitches and years of effort to build a new library that would be source of pride for Sedona became a reality. On June 6, 2008, Sedona Public Library will celebrate 50 Years of service to the community when we host a special party in honor of both that anniversary and the opening of the building, fourteen years prior.
The celebrations will include a rededication of the Sedona Schnebley statue in front of the Library, the City's first piece of public art in its collection of Art in Public Places. There will be other celebrations including presentations by Senator Tom O'Halleran, the current Mayor Sedona, and others. There will be a display of the Library's history and much more, including refreshments served by the Friends of the Library. It should be a fun and informative day.
The party runs from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and is open to all. Please note that the Library will close for preparations at 2:00 PM on that day.
In honor of that special day, both the State of Arizona and the City of Sedona have proclaimed June 6th as "Sedona Public Library Day." Governor Napolitano's proclamation reads, "The Sedona Public Library has been an outstanding advocate for freedom through knowledge fro the citizens and visitors of Sedona and all the citizens of Yavapai and Coconino Counties. On behalf of the citizens of the State of Arizona, I offer my sincere thank you for all that you do for the community. Best wishes for success in all the anniversary events and in all future endeavors."
The City of Sedona Proclamation reads,
"WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library will be celebrating its 50th anniversary on June 6, 2008; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library patrons, donors, Friends of the Library, volunteers, staff and Board of Trustees are to be congratulated on 50 years of outstanding service; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library has been an outstanding advocate for freedom through knowledge for the citizens of Sedona, visitors to Sedona and all citizens of Yavapai and Coconino counties; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library recognizes the ongoing significance of our public library as central to the quality of life and education of families and their children; and the equality of opportunity and access to a global world for the entire community that the Sedona Public Library stands for; and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library continues to fulfill its mission to enrich the lives of Sedona-area residents and to help them and our community succeed by providing information services that are affordable, responsive, efficient and enjoyable, and by serving as a center for community activities, and
WHEREAS, The Sedona Public Library has been an essential partner to the City of Sedona,
NOW, Therefore, I, Pud Colquitt, Mayor of the City of Sedona, on behalf of the entire City Council and Staff do hereby proclaim Friday, June 6, 2008 as
SEDONA PUBLIC LIBRARY DAY in the City of Sedona offering our best wishes as the Sedona Public Library celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The Sedona Public Library has stood as a central feature of Sedona for 50 years. It grew from a set of three shelves of books in the uptown section to a newly built structure on Jordan Road in 1968, to the impressive edifice on White Bear Road, its present location, in 1994. It has served as library, community center, public forum, and entertainment and information center for Sedona's citizens and visitors, alike. Having been built of donated funds entire, and donated labor for much of the work, it stands as a testament of the value and importance of community pulling together to create a much needed resource.
We the Staff, Volunteers, Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library are all exceedingly proud to have the opportunity to offer a space that serves our community so effectively. Please come and take part in our 50th Anniversary celebration on June 6, 2008 at 3:00 PM. We'd love to see you there.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: May 23, 2008
First things first. In last week's column, I spoke about the Book Sale being held to support the Village Service Center in the Village of Oak Creek. The problem with what I wrote was that I gave the wrong dates for the Sale. It should be May 24th, 25th and 26th, Saturday, Sunday and Monday – THIS WEEK. The Sale will be in the old ice cream parlor storefront in the Weber's IGA marketplace starting at 10 AM to 4 PM. All proceeds will be used to assist in the operation of the Library's service center on Cortez Drive. Even if you are a resident of Sedona-proper, if you are in the Village, help out. Through the years, residents of that side of our community have contributed their time, talents and hard earned cash to support the main site of the Library. Now, we can all help them to get good library service in their community.
When I was a kid, I had a particular fascination for dictionaries. I took to reading through them because I was so intrigued by the many words that I didn't know. When I finally found out about the Oxford English Dictionary (the OED), I was blown away. To actually suggest that a dictionary could possibly contain all the words in the English language – well, my goodness, that was just too much! It was written in an impossibly small font size that needed a magnifying glass to read but that didn't matter to me.
Upon taking the position of Librarian here at Sedona Public Library, I was thrilled to see that the OED could be purchased in a twenty-volume set that didn't need a magnifier. It has a truly impressive weight on the shelves. Remember, it has all the words in the English language. Another impressive fact was that there have only been two versions of the full set since its original publication in the late 1800s.
Now, the news is that the OED will no longer be published in bound paper form. Apparently, according to an article in the New York Times magazine, it just isn't worth the publishers' time and expense to produce the bound version so they are simply transferring to an online version. There are many good reasons for this, not the least of which is that updates to entries can be done at almost no expense and much more quickly.
Those who still fancy "owning" the OED can simply purchase an annual subscription for about $300. Consider that the bound version was nearly $2,000 and suddenly, this seems pretty good. That is, until you realize that you probably only use a dictionary three or four times per year anymore. Computers offer some great automated tools for this purpose. We quickly have come to depend on these new tools. Books seem to be growing more passé all the time.
Here at Sedona Public Library, we offer books you can download, books on MP3 player devices, online access to databases versus books on the shelves and books on tape and CD. It can be a particular challenge to our budget to purchase four or five copies of a title, each in a different format. What happened to the good old book, a simple collection of bound paper, printing and occasionally illustrations or photographs? Are we headed for electronic books only?
It must be said, of course, that having a book in hand is the favored form. You know that saying, "Who would want to curl up on bed with an electronic book?" It is true that for some versions of books, the stuff that populates the best seller lists, I would prefer to have a real book. But, some items simply aren't the type of items you would curl up with. Take for example the Physician's Desk Reference or an encyclopedia or, perish the thought, a dictionary. Typically, items of this sort are used only for quick look-ups, not curling up and comfy reading.
Why pay thousands of dollars for a bound book when it is only taking up valuable space on the shelf and getting used only occasionally? Maybe, just maybe, we need not be frightened by the idea of some books being relegated to electronic-only form.
It is true that one can now find plenty of popular, best seller-type books in electronic form. For some folks, this is actually the way they prefer to read. There are loads of different tastes in this world and, as Dad used to say to me, "The more the merrier!" (He did have a certain philosophical bent!).
We need only recall that there are more books being published how than at any time in human history to recognize that cries of "The book is dead," may well be hysterical. So long as there is a market for bound books, just there is a growing market for electronic books, we will have readers. One can always curl up with one in bed – plugged in or not!
Red Rock News
Date: May 23, 2008
First things first. In last week's column, I spoke about the Book Sale being held to support the Village Service Center in the Village of Oak Creek. The problem with what I wrote was that I gave the wrong dates for the Sale. It should be May 24th, 25th and 26th, Saturday, Sunday and Monday – THIS WEEK. The Sale will be in the old ice cream parlor storefront in the Weber's IGA marketplace starting at 10 AM to 4 PM. All proceeds will be used to assist in the operation of the Library's service center on Cortez Drive. Even if you are a resident of Sedona-proper, if you are in the Village, help out. Through the years, residents of that side of our community have contributed their time, talents and hard earned cash to support the main site of the Library. Now, we can all help them to get good library service in their community.
When I was a kid, I had a particular fascination for dictionaries. I took to reading through them because I was so intrigued by the many words that I didn't know. When I finally found out about the Oxford English Dictionary (the OED), I was blown away. To actually suggest that a dictionary could possibly contain all the words in the English language – well, my goodness, that was just too much! It was written in an impossibly small font size that needed a magnifying glass to read but that didn't matter to me.
Upon taking the position of Librarian here at Sedona Public Library, I was thrilled to see that the OED could be purchased in a twenty-volume set that didn't need a magnifier. It has a truly impressive weight on the shelves. Remember, it has all the words in the English language. Another impressive fact was that there have only been two versions of the full set since its original publication in the late 1800s.
Now, the news is that the OED will no longer be published in bound paper form. Apparently, according to an article in the New York Times magazine, it just isn't worth the publishers' time and expense to produce the bound version so they are simply transferring to an online version. There are many good reasons for this, not the least of which is that updates to entries can be done at almost no expense and much more quickly.
Those who still fancy "owning" the OED can simply purchase an annual subscription for about $300. Consider that the bound version was nearly $2,000 and suddenly, this seems pretty good. That is, until you realize that you probably only use a dictionary three or four times per year anymore. Computers offer some great automated tools for this purpose. We quickly have come to depend on these new tools. Books seem to be growing more passé all the time.
Here at Sedona Public Library, we offer books you can download, books on MP3 player devices, online access to databases versus books on the shelves and books on tape and CD. It can be a particular challenge to our budget to purchase four or five copies of a title, each in a different format. What happened to the good old book, a simple collection of bound paper, printing and occasionally illustrations or photographs? Are we headed for electronic books only?
It must be said, of course, that having a book in hand is the favored form. You know that saying, "Who would want to curl up on bed with an electronic book?" It is true that for some versions of books, the stuff that populates the best seller lists, I would prefer to have a real book. But, some items simply aren't the type of items you would curl up with. Take for example the Physician's Desk Reference or an encyclopedia or, perish the thought, a dictionary. Typically, items of this sort are used only for quick look-ups, not curling up and comfy reading.
Why pay thousands of dollars for a bound book when it is only taking up valuable space on the shelf and getting used only occasionally? Maybe, just maybe, we need not be frightened by the idea of some books being relegated to electronic-only form.
It is true that one can now find plenty of popular, best seller-type books in electronic form. For some folks, this is actually the way they prefer to read. There are loads of different tastes in this world and, as Dad used to say to me, "The more the merrier!" (He did have a certain philosophical bent!).
We need only recall that there are more books being published how than at any time in human history to recognize that cries of "The book is dead," may well be hysterical. So long as there is a market for bound books, just there is a growing market for electronic books, we will have readers. One can always curl up with one in bed – plugged in or not!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: May 16, 2008
Spring is here in full force. For most of us, this is a time of rejoicing at the burgeoning signs of life all around us. But, I have seen full grown men and women driven to tears at the sight of what for most of us is the glorious scene of lovely clouds of yellow pollen drifting from the branches of a juniper tree. Yes, spring is here, but so is allergy season, a long period during which normally happy, free-breathing folks stagger from pillar to post gasping, sneezing, and watery-eyed.
This month, Sedona Public Library has a display of books in our collection that offer some possible avenues to remedies. On the shelves just inside the front doors, you will find a representative collection of titles that deal with allergies and hearing loss. While these books won't stop the symptoms by themselves, they offer many ways to make changes in your life that may well reduce or eliminate the suffering.
Take for example, How to Outsmart Your Allergies, by Dr. Art Ulene. It describes how allergies cause symptoms, how to identify and avoid your allergy "triggers," when to see your doctor and what to ask, which drugs can prevent allergy symptoms and when to use them, and when you need to see an allergy specialist.
Dr. William Briner has written a guide to managing exercise and medication to relieve allergy symptoms in his book Action Plan for Allergies. It shows you how to take control of your health, boost your energy, and reduce or eliminate the need for medication with the latest scientific research and proven exercise plans.
Are your pets the cause of your allergy symptoms? Try reading Allergic to Pets? The Breakthrough Guide to Living with the Animals You Love, by Shirlee Kalstone in which she covers what causes an allergic reaction and how to ward off the worst of it, how to care for your hairy, furry and feathered pets to minimize allergens, how to allergy-proof your home, room by room, and when to get professional assistance, medicines for the sufferer and nontoxic allergen-reducing products for animals.
If you love to garden but hate to sneeze, read Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping, by Thomas Leo Ogren. Given that in the move to Arizona, many people have brought along the very plants that caused their allergies elsewhere, this guide offers sane information on what to plant and much more.
Our display also offers books on hearing loss and prevention of hearing loss. Sedona's own Dr. Richard Carmen has edited an excellent consumer handbook on the subject entitled Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids: A Bridge to Healing, now in its second edition. There probably isn't a better overall guide to the subject and its remedies than this book.
Even before you lose your hearing, consider Save Your Hearing Now: The Revolutionary Program That Can Prevent and May Even Reverse Hearing Loss, by Michael Seidman, MD. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, they say.
If, though, your hearing loss is acute and permanent, you may wish to read The Joy of Signing, by Lottie L. Riekehof who offers a basic, yet comprehensive guide to learning International Sign Language, including effective communications with the many subtleties that regular verbal communications offer.
No one wants to suffer from allergies or hearing loss. Yet, many of us either suffer ourselves, or know someone who does. This small representation of the books in our collection may well provide you the information you need to overcome what can be truly impairing problems.
Remember, when you look at the Library's catalog, either online from home or while in the building here, you are seeing the titles offered by all of the members of the Yavapai Library Network, a collection of more than 1.4 million items. When you place an item on hold, whether it is available here or at one of the nearly fifty other libraries in the Network, it will be delivered here free of charge for you to pick up. You can order the item to be available for pick up at either the main Library in west Sedona, or at the Village Service Center on Cortez Drive in the Village.
Finally, as the Village community grows and highway construction continues to place impediments in the path of those seeking to visit the main Library, we are working to provide services at that Village Service Center site. During Memorial Day weekend, May 24th, 25th & 26th, there will be a book sale to support that Service Center held at the Weber's IGA shopping plaza in the old Ice Cream Store site. You can donate books to the sale by calling Carolyn Fisher at 284-4683, and by shopping for your summer reading materials at the sale.
I also wish to encourage residents of Sedona proper to support the sale. For many years, the residents of the Village of Oak Creek have supported this Library through their donations of money and volunteer hours. Let's all help them get local Library service in the Village. That's one more way we can show our commitment to this community. Thank you.
Red Rock News
Date: May 16, 2008
Spring is here in full force. For most of us, this is a time of rejoicing at the burgeoning signs of life all around us. But, I have seen full grown men and women driven to tears at the sight of what for most of us is the glorious scene of lovely clouds of yellow pollen drifting from the branches of a juniper tree. Yes, spring is here, but so is allergy season, a long period during which normally happy, free-breathing folks stagger from pillar to post gasping, sneezing, and watery-eyed.
This month, Sedona Public Library has a display of books in our collection that offer some possible avenues to remedies. On the shelves just inside the front doors, you will find a representative collection of titles that deal with allergies and hearing loss. While these books won't stop the symptoms by themselves, they offer many ways to make changes in your life that may well reduce or eliminate the suffering.
Take for example, How to Outsmart Your Allergies, by Dr. Art Ulene. It describes how allergies cause symptoms, how to identify and avoid your allergy "triggers," when to see your doctor and what to ask, which drugs can prevent allergy symptoms and when to use them, and when you need to see an allergy specialist.
Dr. William Briner has written a guide to managing exercise and medication to relieve allergy symptoms in his book Action Plan for Allergies. It shows you how to take control of your health, boost your energy, and reduce or eliminate the need for medication with the latest scientific research and proven exercise plans.
Are your pets the cause of your allergy symptoms? Try reading Allergic to Pets? The Breakthrough Guide to Living with the Animals You Love, by Shirlee Kalstone in which she covers what causes an allergic reaction and how to ward off the worst of it, how to care for your hairy, furry and feathered pets to minimize allergens, how to allergy-proof your home, room by room, and when to get professional assistance, medicines for the sufferer and nontoxic allergen-reducing products for animals.
If you love to garden but hate to sneeze, read Allergy-Free Gardening: The Revolutionary Guide to Healthy Landscaping, by Thomas Leo Ogren. Given that in the move to Arizona, many people have brought along the very plants that caused their allergies elsewhere, this guide offers sane information on what to plant and much more.
Our display also offers books on hearing loss and prevention of hearing loss. Sedona's own Dr. Richard Carmen has edited an excellent consumer handbook on the subject entitled Hearing Loss, Hearing Aids: A Bridge to Healing, now in its second edition. There probably isn't a better overall guide to the subject and its remedies than this book.
Even before you lose your hearing, consider Save Your Hearing Now: The Revolutionary Program That Can Prevent and May Even Reverse Hearing Loss, by Michael Seidman, MD. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, they say.
If, though, your hearing loss is acute and permanent, you may wish to read The Joy of Signing, by Lottie L. Riekehof who offers a basic, yet comprehensive guide to learning International Sign Language, including effective communications with the many subtleties that regular verbal communications offer.
No one wants to suffer from allergies or hearing loss. Yet, many of us either suffer ourselves, or know someone who does. This small representation of the books in our collection may well provide you the information you need to overcome what can be truly impairing problems.
Remember, when you look at the Library's catalog, either online from home or while in the building here, you are seeing the titles offered by all of the members of the Yavapai Library Network, a collection of more than 1.4 million items. When you place an item on hold, whether it is available here or at one of the nearly fifty other libraries in the Network, it will be delivered here free of charge for you to pick up. You can order the item to be available for pick up at either the main Library in west Sedona, or at the Village Service Center on Cortez Drive in the Village.
Finally, as the Village community grows and highway construction continues to place impediments in the path of those seeking to visit the main Library, we are working to provide services at that Village Service Center site. During Memorial Day weekend, May 24th, 25th & 26th, there will be a book sale to support that Service Center held at the Weber's IGA shopping plaza in the old Ice Cream Store site. You can donate books to the sale by calling Carolyn Fisher at 284-4683, and by shopping for your summer reading materials at the sale.
I also wish to encourage residents of Sedona proper to support the sale. For many years, the residents of the Village of Oak Creek have supported this Library through their donations of money and volunteer hours. Let's all help them get local Library service in the Village. That's one more way we can show our commitment to this community. Thank you.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: May 9, 2008
As the Book Sale winds down, all of us here at the Sedona Public Library expect things to return to some degree of normalcy. That being said, what is normal here at the Library is not necessarily quite and uneventful. If the truth were told, this vital community center is bustling busy more often than not. One area of heavy activity is that of programs offered here.
Annually, we offer nearly 500 programs! Some are produced by Library staff, such as our Summer Reading Program and children's programs, but we also provide space for local organizations to meet and even rent our rooms when they are not otherwise engaged. Something about rolling stones and moss comes to mind!
Let's take a look at some upcoming programs to be offered here at the Library during the next two weeks. By the way, you need not depend on this column for information of this sort. Simply go to the Library's website (www.sedonalibrary.org) and click on the link for "Library Events" to see the calendar of everything going on here.
During the week of May 11th through the 17th, you will find a program on Successful Brain Aging, a yoga course presented by the Dahn Yoga Center of Sedona. That's at 3:30 PM in the Quiet Study Room. Later that evening, the Flicker Shack Reruns returns after a book sale enforced hiatus at 6:30 PM in the Si Birch Community Room.
Tuesday, May 13th offers the Socrates Café at 10:30 AM in the Quiet Study. Facilitated by Ken Dzugan, this is an open discussion program that begins with a poll of all attending seeking what they wish to discuss that week. Everyone attending has appreciated the chance to hear and share ideas on a range of topics. That same day at 2:00 PM bring the Detective Club in which attendees discuss mystery novels. That evening, Sedonan Chris Anderson will present "Creating Abundance with Rainwater and Greywater Harvesting." As water becomes a more and more crucial issue in the West, this information will be extremely valuable.
Friday, May 16th at 6 PM brings another in the Library's 50th Anniversary Author series when artist Bruce Aiken, who lives in and paints images of Grand Canyon, will present his new book and a discussion on his style, techniques and inspirations.
Saturday the 17th finds the Sedona Integral Life Practice group meeting who key off of the work of Ken Wilber. That's at 10 AM in the Quiet Study. Two PM sees a program on the Psychology of Handwriting Analysis.
The week of the 18th through the 24th again offers Successful Brain Aging Yoga and the Flicker Shack Reruns on Monday. Do you see a pattern developing? Tuesday night at 7:00 PM brings the Sedona Gem and Mineral Society in the Community Room.
Hablamos Espanol and the Sirius Lookers present on Wednesday, the 21st. The first is a conversational Spanish speaking group whose sole interest together is to improve their command of that language. You can learn about our night skies and astronomy in general by attending the Sirius Lookers, whose name refers to the Dog star, not fashion!
Are you fascinated by the fabric arts or archaeology? Then Thursday, the 22nd is your day! From 10:00 AM 'til Noon, you can join with others who Sit and Stitch, enjoying each's company, counted thread and any other form of sewing based crafts. The Archaeology Society of the Verde Valley meets in the Community Room at 6:00 PM to share and learn about our region's rich history.
Finally, on Saturday the 24th at 10 AM, the Integral Life Practice group meets again.
You may be surprised to know that every one of the programs I mention is offered by your fellow citizens, not by Library staff. It is the Sedona Public Library's practice to facilitate the community's use of the building and its resources and all these programs are proof of the success of that approach. If you have an idea and would like to present it to your fellow Sedonans, as a single event or a repeating one, just contact the Library to learn more about how you can make your particular knowledge and skill known to the entire community.
Remember, Sedona Public Library is YOUR library and the staff, volunteers and I work hard to make it so. Enjoy this important community center!
Red Rock News
Date: May 9, 2008
As the Book Sale winds down, all of us here at the Sedona Public Library expect things to return to some degree of normalcy. That being said, what is normal here at the Library is not necessarily quite and uneventful. If the truth were told, this vital community center is bustling busy more often than not. One area of heavy activity is that of programs offered here.
Annually, we offer nearly 500 programs! Some are produced by Library staff, such as our Summer Reading Program and children's programs, but we also provide space for local organizations to meet and even rent our rooms when they are not otherwise engaged. Something about rolling stones and moss comes to mind!
Let's take a look at some upcoming programs to be offered here at the Library during the next two weeks. By the way, you need not depend on this column for information of this sort. Simply go to the Library's website (www.sedonalibrary.org) and click on the link for "Library Events" to see the calendar of everything going on here.
During the week of May 11th through the 17th, you will find a program on Successful Brain Aging, a yoga course presented by the Dahn Yoga Center of Sedona. That's at 3:30 PM in the Quiet Study Room. Later that evening, the Flicker Shack Reruns returns after a book sale enforced hiatus at 6:30 PM in the Si Birch Community Room.
Tuesday, May 13th offers the Socrates Café at 10:30 AM in the Quiet Study. Facilitated by Ken Dzugan, this is an open discussion program that begins with a poll of all attending seeking what they wish to discuss that week. Everyone attending has appreciated the chance to hear and share ideas on a range of topics. That same day at 2:00 PM bring the Detective Club in which attendees discuss mystery novels. That evening, Sedonan Chris Anderson will present "Creating Abundance with Rainwater and Greywater Harvesting." As water becomes a more and more crucial issue in the West, this information will be extremely valuable.
Friday, May 16th at 6 PM brings another in the Library's 50th Anniversary Author series when artist Bruce Aiken, who lives in and paints images of Grand Canyon, will present his new book and a discussion on his style, techniques and inspirations.
Saturday the 17th finds the Sedona Integral Life Practice group meeting who key off of the work of Ken Wilber. That's at 10 AM in the Quiet Study. Two PM sees a program on the Psychology of Handwriting Analysis.
The week of the 18th through the 24th again offers Successful Brain Aging Yoga and the Flicker Shack Reruns on Monday. Do you see a pattern developing? Tuesday night at 7:00 PM brings the Sedona Gem and Mineral Society in the Community Room.
Hablamos Espanol and the Sirius Lookers present on Wednesday, the 21st. The first is a conversational Spanish speaking group whose sole interest together is to improve their command of that language. You can learn about our night skies and astronomy in general by attending the Sirius Lookers, whose name refers to the Dog star, not fashion!
Are you fascinated by the fabric arts or archaeology? Then Thursday, the 22nd is your day! From 10:00 AM 'til Noon, you can join with others who Sit and Stitch, enjoying each's company, counted thread and any other form of sewing based crafts. The Archaeology Society of the Verde Valley meets in the Community Room at 6:00 PM to share and learn about our region's rich history.
Finally, on Saturday the 24th at 10 AM, the Integral Life Practice group meets again.
You may be surprised to know that every one of the programs I mention is offered by your fellow citizens, not by Library staff. It is the Sedona Public Library's practice to facilitate the community's use of the building and its resources and all these programs are proof of the success of that approach. If you have an idea and would like to present it to your fellow Sedonans, as a single event or a repeating one, just contact the Library to learn more about how you can make your particular knowledge and skill known to the entire community.
Remember, Sedona Public Library is YOUR library and the staff, volunteers and I work hard to make it so. Enjoy this important community center!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: April 18, 2008
The Village Service Center, located on Cortez Drive in the Village of Oak Creek, has been operating for two and a half years now. It serves the Village area as a drop off and pick up location for library books, as well as provideing Internet access via a wireless connection and the dedicated computers there. In keeping with the Sedona Public Library's efforts to improve access to our users as needed, that site is the seed for greater services to that community in the years to come.
One part of library services is providing programs, but if you have been to the Village Service Center it is clear that the small space offers no opportunity that. But, now through the cooperation of the Sedona Winds facility on Jacks Canyon Road we are beginning to offer programs to Village residents.
Beginning on Monday, April 28th, at 1:30 PM, Sedona Public Library, working in partnership with Sedona Winds and the Arizona Humanities Council, presents the first in an ongoing series of speakers and book discussion groups. On that Monday, Associate Professor of English and Women's Studies Judy Nolte will speak on "Family Secrets: The Uneasy Tradition of Diarists and Their Readers." The story of diarists, their devotion to their private books, and the tensions diaries raise in families has a long tradition. This presentation covers ordinary pioneers on the Overland Trail, as well-known diarists and examines how today's blogs tease the line between privacy and publicity.
I also encourage attendees to participate in our first book review program by picking up a copy of These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1910, by Arizona author Nancy E. Turner, following the presentation. Inspired by her own family memoirs, Turner has created pioneer Sarah Prine's dramatic tale of survival in the Arizona Territory in the late 1880's.
This book is the subject of the coming book discussion slated for Wednesday, May 28th, also at 1:30 PM at Sedona Winds. Through the Arizona Humanities Council, we anticipate bringing a speaker to the Village every other month and a Community Book Discussion on alternate months. Information on upcoming speakers and book discussions will be available at the Village Service Center, on the Library website (www.sedonalibrary.org), at the Library's main branch, and on flyers distributed at Weber's IGA, other Village businesses and in the "Villager", "Kudos" and the "Red Rock News" publications. Keep your eyes peeled for these announcements and plan on attending. Finally, programs in the Village of Oak Creek from the Sedona Public Library!
Shifting lanes, the Sedona Public Library is implementing a new procedure with our Internet access computers beginning on Friday, April 18th. The new procedure is called "Authentication" and it is the first step in better managing these extremely busy machines. Authentication changes how you signup for time on the computers. Instead of simply typing in a name to reserve a machine, you will now need your SPL Library card number. Visitors will be issued a temporary, one-day use card for this purpose. The strength of this new method is that one person cannot sign up for multiple sessions on the computer by using names such as Keeber1, Keeber2, etc. Users must use their card number and it cannot be entered until the current session is finished. What this means is users who want multiple sessions must get back into the queue to get those extra times. Coming soon, but not this Friday, are limits to the number of times each day one person can sign up for the computers. This means that more users will have access to the machines and wait a shorter length of time to use them. The system will be more fair for all involved.
Further changes in this system will be announced in this column and via signs and handouts at the Internet computers as they are implemented. With so much use of these vitals tools by which we provide information to our users, we are looking forward to this more equitable method of doing so. Users are thanked, in advance, for their cooperation and understanding of the need for these changes.
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