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!
Friday, January 4, 2008
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!
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Keeber;s Kolumn
Library News, by Carla Felsted for David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: December 21, 2007
Searchin,’ I been searchin’ every whi-i-ich a way… since I wrote an earlier column on Google, a favorite tool for navigating the Internet. If you spend time with another media tool, television, you probably know by now that you no longer AskJeeves, you just Ask.com for information. Or shout Yahoo! when that search engine finds what you want. And like Northwest Mounties, we’ll help you bring that information in with more searching tools and tips in this and future columns.
Yahoo claims to be the most visited web site of all and wants to knock Google off its top perch. (Because I don’t like to “shout” with exclamation marks I will leave off the ! that punctuates its brand name.) Yahoo has a number of strengths, from entertainment to shopping and traveling. And its free email service is very popular worldwide.
A library colleague recently tipped me off to Yahoo ’s Movies search, which is quite impressive. It allows you to watch trailers (formerly called “previews”), get reviews from critics such as Roger Ebert, check local show times, and even link to a site where to purchase advance tickets, If your ideal “theatre” environment is your own living room, you can add films currently in release to a Netflix account for rental when they are released on DVD.
Music lovers will find what’s at the top of the charts and clips of performances such as Celine Dion’s farewell Las Vegas concert. For $6 month you can legally download music (over 2 million choices) and listen guilt-free from Yahoo’s Music Unlimited site. You can even create your own “radio station,” with a favorite genre, including a feature that allows you to ban certain artists and songs that grate on your nerves. Although pre- and baby-boomers may find material of value, the site is definitely oriented to youthful tastes. One has to search for any evidence of Jazz, Classical, Opera or Big Band music, but it is there.
Be sure to turn your speakers down before venturing to Yahoo’s Games section, where you will likely be subjected to whatever video game is being currently promoted such as Grand Auto Theft IV. If nothing else, you can educate yourself on what games your children or grandchildren have been clamoring for. There are less violent ones, such as Cake Mania, with “45 levels of baking fun.” You will find board, card and word games, and even escape into alternate reality with Sims. Or into our unfortunate cultural reality with another section of Yahoo Entertainment labeled “omg” for its news of “pop tart” celebrities like Britney Spears. I think I’ll skip that one.
In the Sports section you can follow your favorite teams, check out the stats, find out how highly paid players and coaches are, and try your hand at “fantasy” football and other sports. If you missed the Davis Cup earlier this month, there are video clips. Track your golf game and calculate your handicap.
There is a serious side to Yahoo, not that sports aren’t for many of us. Its Finance section is not just for stock market watching, although there is plenty of that. You can read articles about when to start taking Social Security payments, get advice about workplace issues, find current mortgage rates, and view calculators on college costs, household budgets, and saving for retirement.
Now that you’ve figured out your budget or retirement income, it’s time to go shopping. If you are pondering New Year resolutions, you may look into fitness and sports equipment. There’s a new type of bicycle called the “comfort bike,” for those who no longer need mountain bikes for rugged terrains or touring bikes for long road trips. Prices from well-established high-end retailers to discounters are displayed, with prices from $99-999. Some look like the bicycles of our youth, with medium width tires and comfortable seats for riding in an upright position.
Yahoo helps you do online shopping as well as find local retailers (if you live in a larger city). It sent me to Flagstaff for bicycles and accessories although we have local stores with both. Their link to ShopLocal.com only yielded a total of 5 retailers of all types in Sedona and the VOC. I also noted that some product review links led to articles from Consumer Reports for which you have to pay, Please note you can get these articles for free from the Library, and not just from our shelves, but our online databases, which you can access from the comfort of your own home. You’ll hear more about our databases in a future article.
As for resources on traveling, there are many on Yahoo and Google as well as other places. As a former travel writer, I’ll have lots to say about these later, too. In the meantime watch this column for news of library exhibits—the quilts are coming at the end of the month—and programs, one-time and ongoing, as well as new library services and products.
Carla Felsted works as Reference Librarian at Sedona Public Library.
This column is also presented on: Gateway to Sedona and Sedona Biz
Red Rock News
Date: December 21, 2007
Searchin,’ I been searchin’ every whi-i-ich a way… since I wrote an earlier column on Google, a favorite tool for navigating the Internet. If you spend time with another media tool, television, you probably know by now that you no longer AskJeeves, you just Ask.com for information. Or shout Yahoo! when that search engine finds what you want. And like Northwest Mounties, we’ll help you bring that information in with more searching tools and tips in this and future columns.
Yahoo claims to be the most visited web site of all and wants to knock Google off its top perch. (Because I don’t like to “shout” with exclamation marks I will leave off the ! that punctuates its brand name.) Yahoo has a number of strengths, from entertainment to shopping and traveling. And its free email service is very popular worldwide.
A library colleague recently tipped me off to Yahoo ’s Movies search, which is quite impressive. It allows you to watch trailers (formerly called “previews”), get reviews from critics such as Roger Ebert, check local show times, and even link to a site where to purchase advance tickets, If your ideal “theatre” environment is your own living room, you can add films currently in release to a Netflix account for rental when they are released on DVD.
Music lovers will find what’s at the top of the charts and clips of performances such as Celine Dion’s farewell Las Vegas concert. For $6 month you can legally download music (over 2 million choices) and listen guilt-free from Yahoo’s Music Unlimited site. You can even create your own “radio station,” with a favorite genre, including a feature that allows you to ban certain artists and songs that grate on your nerves. Although pre- and baby-boomers may find material of value, the site is definitely oriented to youthful tastes. One has to search for any evidence of Jazz, Classical, Opera or Big Band music, but it is there.
Be sure to turn your speakers down before venturing to Yahoo’s Games section, where you will likely be subjected to whatever video game is being currently promoted such as Grand Auto Theft IV. If nothing else, you can educate yourself on what games your children or grandchildren have been clamoring for. There are less violent ones, such as Cake Mania, with “45 levels of baking fun.” You will find board, card and word games, and even escape into alternate reality with Sims. Or into our unfortunate cultural reality with another section of Yahoo Entertainment labeled “omg” for its news of “pop tart” celebrities like Britney Spears. I think I’ll skip that one.
In the Sports section you can follow your favorite teams, check out the stats, find out how highly paid players and coaches are, and try your hand at “fantasy” football and other sports. If you missed the Davis Cup earlier this month, there are video clips. Track your golf game and calculate your handicap.
There is a serious side to Yahoo, not that sports aren’t for many of us. Its Finance section is not just for stock market watching, although there is plenty of that. You can read articles about when to start taking Social Security payments, get advice about workplace issues, find current mortgage rates, and view calculators on college costs, household budgets, and saving for retirement.
Now that you’ve figured out your budget or retirement income, it’s time to go shopping. If you are pondering New Year resolutions, you may look into fitness and sports equipment. There’s a new type of bicycle called the “comfort bike,” for those who no longer need mountain bikes for rugged terrains or touring bikes for long road trips. Prices from well-established high-end retailers to discounters are displayed, with prices from $99-999. Some look like the bicycles of our youth, with medium width tires and comfortable seats for riding in an upright position.
Yahoo helps you do online shopping as well as find local retailers (if you live in a larger city). It sent me to Flagstaff for bicycles and accessories although we have local stores with both. Their link to ShopLocal.com only yielded a total of 5 retailers of all types in Sedona and the VOC. I also noted that some product review links led to articles from Consumer Reports for which you have to pay, Please note you can get these articles for free from the Library, and not just from our shelves, but our online databases, which you can access from the comfort of your own home. You’ll hear more about our databases in a future article.
As for resources on traveling, there are many on Yahoo and Google as well as other places. As a former travel writer, I’ll have lots to say about these later, too. In the meantime watch this column for news of library exhibits—the quilts are coming at the end of the month—and programs, one-time and ongoing, as well as new library services and products.
Carla Felsted works as Reference Librarian at Sedona Public Library.
This column is also presented on: Gateway to Sedona and Sedona Biz
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: December 14, 2007
When people walk into the Sedona Library, they typically are doing the same things each time. They go to the Circulation desk to drop off their books to be checked in, or to an Internet computer, they look up a book, read one of the many periodicals, attending a program, or ask a question at the Reference desk. They are familiar with the place and know what they want to do.
The Library’s newly redesigned website, www.sedonalibrary.org, was created to afford users the same ease of access to all the services we offer. Just as one does when one walks into the Library physically, someone using the Library’s website can easily find what he or she is looking for.
Imagine going to the computer catalog to find a book. The website offers that same window into all1.4 million items in the Yavapai Library Network collection. There is an advantage to using the website, though – you can do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when the Library is closed, right from your home. Go ahead and search the catalog in your thread bare bathrobe and fuzzy bunny slippers. Who is going to know?
Do you want to find out when a program is scheduled? The website gives you all the same information as when you ask one of the staff or volunteers in the Library. How about checking to see if you have a fine on your library card? You can do that too from the website.
Kids and teenagers often need homework help. They can follow the links on our web to literally hundreds of great resources that will meet their needs. The links are all highly recommended by librarians from all over the country. Our teen section, the newest part of our updated web, is full of great links on books, music, comics, sports and computer and video games. We are is especially proud of this section as we worked very hard to provide links that teens will find useful.
Another feature with which we are very pleased is the Dear Reader online book clubs and newsletters. Are you a fan of fiction, or mysteries, teen books or romance, business or even audio books? Are you looking for the newest books coming out? By signing up online, you will receive a monthly newsletter to your email detailing the new books in each genre with a direct link to our catalog so you can place a hold.
Are you the type that wants to flip through a book and read a bit before checking it out? By signing up for the book clubs, also in a variety of genres, you can get a five-minute excerpt from the first chapter of a book to read to decide if it is what you want. These quick reads also have a direct link by which you can order the item from the Library!
Ten percent of our community population is Hispanic and the new website offers a page of information about the services we offer to those folks. Our goal is to assist new arrivals in Sedona to become fully fledged citizens that participate in the local culture as fully as do Anglos. We have materials to assist in learning English, how to apply for citizenship, plus fiction and nonfiction, adult and youth materials. If you know someone who would benefit from such reading materials, please direct them to the Sedona Library.
The new website provides information on the history of the Library, the Friends of the Library, our policies, how to volunteer, and much more. There are even links to community organizations and helpful websites that have been checked by our professional staff for their accuracy and currency of information.
More and more, people are accessing information from wherever the need occurs to them, and at all hours of the day or night. By designing our website to mirror the Library’s array of services, plus offering many resources that are among our most requested points of information, you can have professional library help for your information needs any time you want or need them.
Be sure to check out the site at www.sedonalibrary.org. If you would like to be shown what we have with the assistance of a staff member, you can always just ask for a “tour” the next time you are in the building. Sometimes, the personal touch is best after all and it is our strong suit!
Red Rock News
Date: December 14, 2007
When people walk into the Sedona Library, they typically are doing the same things each time. They go to the Circulation desk to drop off their books to be checked in, or to an Internet computer, they look up a book, read one of the many periodicals, attending a program, or ask a question at the Reference desk. They are familiar with the place and know what they want to do.
The Library’s newly redesigned website, www.sedonalibrary.org, was created to afford users the same ease of access to all the services we offer. Just as one does when one walks into the Library physically, someone using the Library’s website can easily find what he or she is looking for.
Imagine going to the computer catalog to find a book. The website offers that same window into all1.4 million items in the Yavapai Library Network collection. There is an advantage to using the website, though – you can do this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when the Library is closed, right from your home. Go ahead and search the catalog in your thread bare bathrobe and fuzzy bunny slippers. Who is going to know?
Do you want to find out when a program is scheduled? The website gives you all the same information as when you ask one of the staff or volunteers in the Library. How about checking to see if you have a fine on your library card? You can do that too from the website.
Kids and teenagers often need homework help. They can follow the links on our web to literally hundreds of great resources that will meet their needs. The links are all highly recommended by librarians from all over the country. Our teen section, the newest part of our updated web, is full of great links on books, music, comics, sports and computer and video games. We are is especially proud of this section as we worked very hard to provide links that teens will find useful.
Another feature with which we are very pleased is the Dear Reader online book clubs and newsletters. Are you a fan of fiction, or mysteries, teen books or romance, business or even audio books? Are you looking for the newest books coming out? By signing up online, you will receive a monthly newsletter to your email detailing the new books in each genre with a direct link to our catalog so you can place a hold.
Are you the type that wants to flip through a book and read a bit before checking it out? By signing up for the book clubs, also in a variety of genres, you can get a five-minute excerpt from the first chapter of a book to read to decide if it is what you want. These quick reads also have a direct link by which you can order the item from the Library!
Ten percent of our community population is Hispanic and the new website offers a page of information about the services we offer to those folks. Our goal is to assist new arrivals in Sedona to become fully fledged citizens that participate in the local culture as fully as do Anglos. We have materials to assist in learning English, how to apply for citizenship, plus fiction and nonfiction, adult and youth materials. If you know someone who would benefit from such reading materials, please direct them to the Sedona Library.
The new website provides information on the history of the Library, the Friends of the Library, our policies, how to volunteer, and much more. There are even links to community organizations and helpful websites that have been checked by our professional staff for their accuracy and currency of information.
More and more, people are accessing information from wherever the need occurs to them, and at all hours of the day or night. By designing our website to mirror the Library’s array of services, plus offering many resources that are among our most requested points of information, you can have professional library help for your information needs any time you want or need them.
Be sure to check out the site at www.sedonalibrary.org. If you would like to be shown what we have with the assistance of a staff member, you can always just ask for a “tour” the next time you are in the building. Sometimes, the personal touch is best after all and it is our strong suit!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: December 7, 2007
By now, readers may probably have heard the news of the death of Stephen Nahmanson. Steve, a personal friend of mine, was active in Sedona for a number of years since he arrived here from the East coast. In his time as a resident and community member and community builder, he was a member of the Sedona Midday Rotary Club for which he served in a number of capacities. But, it was his time here at the Sedona Public Library that deserves mention in this column.
Steve served on the Board of Trustees for a two year term and worked with others on Strategic Planning, Finances, and Technology issues. His input and advice was always considered, and I held him in high regard. He retired from the Board last year to pursue other interests, but it should be noted that the proper and effective administration of the Library was very important to him. His efforts in that regard were highly valued.
On a more visible level, Steve was responsible for the creation of the Monday night film series called “Flicker Shack Reruns.” He originally came to me suggesting that such a film series would be worthwhile and enjoyed by many in the community. I am sure his original intention was that I do such a series, but when I explained to him that neither I nor staff had the time to do this, he quickly stepped forward to organize, staff and administer it.
He created a really interesting film series that earned high marks from those who attended. He ran if for almost three years and is that time, it became the most regularly well attended program we offer at the Library. While his original intention of discussions after each film did not materialize, it was clear that people enjoyed his selections and insights at the start of each evening.
When he “retired” from managing the series a few months ago, he assisted Forrest Parnell in getting organized and made sure the transition was seamless. His efforts, whether as a Board member or as curator of the Flicker Shack films was always quiet, effective and well-thought-through. Every library should enjoy a volunteer of such effectiveness and caliber. Again, he will be missed.
Red Rock News
Date: December 7, 2007
By now, readers may probably have heard the news of the death of Stephen Nahmanson. Steve, a personal friend of mine, was active in Sedona for a number of years since he arrived here from the East coast. In his time as a resident and community member and community builder, he was a member of the Sedona Midday Rotary Club for which he served in a number of capacities. But, it was his time here at the Sedona Public Library that deserves mention in this column.
Steve served on the Board of Trustees for a two year term and worked with others on Strategic Planning, Finances, and Technology issues. His input and advice was always considered, and I held him in high regard. He retired from the Board last year to pursue other interests, but it should be noted that the proper and effective administration of the Library was very important to him. His efforts in that regard were highly valued.
On a more visible level, Steve was responsible for the creation of the Monday night film series called “Flicker Shack Reruns.” He originally came to me suggesting that such a film series would be worthwhile and enjoyed by many in the community. I am sure his original intention was that I do such a series, but when I explained to him that neither I nor staff had the time to do this, he quickly stepped forward to organize, staff and administer it.
He created a really interesting film series that earned high marks from those who attended. He ran if for almost three years and is that time, it became the most regularly well attended program we offer at the Library. While his original intention of discussions after each film did not materialize, it was clear that people enjoyed his selections and insights at the start of each evening.
When he “retired” from managing the series a few months ago, he assisted Forrest Parnell in getting organized and made sure the transition was seamless. His efforts, whether as a Board member or as curator of the Flicker Shack films was always quiet, effective and well-thought-through. Every library should enjoy a volunteer of such effectiveness and caliber. Again, he will be missed.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: November 30, 2007
Much like the turkey leftovers from this Thanksgiving, I have lots of tidbits to offer this week. Let’s hope that they don’t put you to sleep like the big bird does!
First, some passings. One recent and one awhile ago, but both worthy of mention. Long-time Sedonan Robert Eggert left us a week or so ago and his absence will be felt, especially by me. Bob is known for his work as an economist, his role at Ford Motor Company, his teaching and his publishing of important economic forecasting newsletters. But, he also served on the Sedona Public Library’s Investment Advisory Committee assisting us in managing and preserving the wonderful donations entrusted to us over the years. He also served as a mentor and friend to me and for that loss, I am most saddened. Always a willing sounding board and trusted advisor, I have gained much from him over the many years of our friendship. He will be sorely missed and not quickly forgotten.
In 1998, Si Birch passed away. For the newer residents of Sedona, you may recognize his name on the highway or at the Medical Center. For the older habitués of our community, you may well have had the pleasure of knowing his unflagging efforts on this community’s behalf in its earlier days, working to bring his long range vision for his adopted hometown to fruition. His wife, Lee, recently passed away too, but in addition to her efforts to build community, she also had a passion for ensuring that Si was recognized for the truly amazing work he did to build Sedona. Just before she passed away, Lee and her family made a very generous contribution to the Sedona Public Library and asked that the main meeting room be named the “Si Birch Community Room.”
That that space, one of the most heavily used “common rooms” in our town should bear his name is truly apt. So many forums, debates, community conversations, programs, events, and more happen in that room, all of which add to the character of Sedona. Naming it after a true pillar of Sedona makes perfect sense. A large plaque in the room describes Si’s extensive work to improve his town and hopefully will remind people not only what he did, but how it takes people working hard to build a nice community. So, henceforth, please be sure to attend an event in the Si Birch Community Room and take a minute to read about his life and accomplishments. Thank you to his daughter, Bonnie McWilliams and her children for this wonderful way of supporting the Library and ensuring the memory of their forebear.
On a more prosaic level, the Library needs volunteers to assist us on Sundays at the main desk checking books in and out. The shifts are short, the place is busy and there could hardly be a more fun and exciting place to work in all of Sedona. If you think you would like to work here as a volunteer, please contact Mia Fliers or Karen Greenwood to discuss how you can get on the schedule.
Every week, we get lots and lots of books donated to us. Some get added to the collection, some get sold at our book sales and now some are available for free! If you like to get a free book that is a great read, visit the shelves on the north wall of the Library to see our selection. Not sure of which direction is north? Just ask a staff person or volunteer!
Finally, if you are dealing with legal matters, now or in the future, please remember that the Sedona Public Library has lots and lots of legal forms that you can copy. We also have access to more via our relationship with the Coconino County Law Library and on the web. Come in and let us help you find the form you need. Dealing with the law and the courts can often be challenging, but if you have to do this, why not enjoy getting help from the staff at Sedona Public Library? It may well be the sole bright spot in the experience!
Don’t forget to give the gift of reading this season. Read to a child, help someone learn to read, or just buy books! Happy Holidays!
Red Rock News
Date: November 30, 2007
Much like the turkey leftovers from this Thanksgiving, I have lots of tidbits to offer this week. Let’s hope that they don’t put you to sleep like the big bird does!
First, some passings. One recent and one awhile ago, but both worthy of mention. Long-time Sedonan Robert Eggert left us a week or so ago and his absence will be felt, especially by me. Bob is known for his work as an economist, his role at Ford Motor Company, his teaching and his publishing of important economic forecasting newsletters. But, he also served on the Sedona Public Library’s Investment Advisory Committee assisting us in managing and preserving the wonderful donations entrusted to us over the years. He also served as a mentor and friend to me and for that loss, I am most saddened. Always a willing sounding board and trusted advisor, I have gained much from him over the many years of our friendship. He will be sorely missed and not quickly forgotten.
In 1998, Si Birch passed away. For the newer residents of Sedona, you may recognize his name on the highway or at the Medical Center. For the older habitués of our community, you may well have had the pleasure of knowing his unflagging efforts on this community’s behalf in its earlier days, working to bring his long range vision for his adopted hometown to fruition. His wife, Lee, recently passed away too, but in addition to her efforts to build community, she also had a passion for ensuring that Si was recognized for the truly amazing work he did to build Sedona. Just before she passed away, Lee and her family made a very generous contribution to the Sedona Public Library and asked that the main meeting room be named the “Si Birch Community Room.”
That that space, one of the most heavily used “common rooms” in our town should bear his name is truly apt. So many forums, debates, community conversations, programs, events, and more happen in that room, all of which add to the character of Sedona. Naming it after a true pillar of Sedona makes perfect sense. A large plaque in the room describes Si’s extensive work to improve his town and hopefully will remind people not only what he did, but how it takes people working hard to build a nice community. So, henceforth, please be sure to attend an event in the Si Birch Community Room and take a minute to read about his life and accomplishments. Thank you to his daughter, Bonnie McWilliams and her children for this wonderful way of supporting the Library and ensuring the memory of their forebear.
On a more prosaic level, the Library needs volunteers to assist us on Sundays at the main desk checking books in and out. The shifts are short, the place is busy and there could hardly be a more fun and exciting place to work in all of Sedona. If you think you would like to work here as a volunteer, please contact Mia Fliers or Karen Greenwood to discuss how you can get on the schedule.
Every week, we get lots and lots of books donated to us. Some get added to the collection, some get sold at our book sales and now some are available for free! If you like to get a free book that is a great read, visit the shelves on the north wall of the Library to see our selection. Not sure of which direction is north? Just ask a staff person or volunteer!
Finally, if you are dealing with legal matters, now or in the future, please remember that the Sedona Public Library has lots and lots of legal forms that you can copy. We also have access to more via our relationship with the Coconino County Law Library and on the web. Come in and let us help you find the form you need. Dealing with the law and the courts can often be challenging, but if you have to do this, why not enjoy getting help from the staff at Sedona Public Library? It may well be the sole bright spot in the experience!
Don’t forget to give the gift of reading this season. Read to a child, help someone learn to read, or just buy books! Happy Holidays!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Keeber's Kolumn
Library News, by David W. Keeber
Red Rock News
Date: November 23, 2007
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. I know, I know, nowadays it begins closer to the 4th of July, but that is not the point of this column. Rather, it is the act of holiday giving that I would like to focus on. In our great nation, we see this season’s gift giving not in its original form, that of the three kings bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, but as a measure of the financial health of our nation. Percentage increases in sales over last year, what those numbers forebode, whether we will survive as a nation with or without sufficient consumption at this time of year – it’s all a bit too much.
I would suggest that the concept of gifting is appropriate, both at this time of year and throughout the rest of the eleven months, but that we consider shifting our focus to more meaningful gifts. How about we consider gifting a skill, our time, our attention and concern for others through actions that speak from the heart, rather than from the wallet?
What I am talking about is the skill of, the love for reading. That would be a gift that would not end up in the landfill, or being re-gifted (unless the reader decided to pass on their love of reading). It is an essential skill for getting ahead, for being successful in life. One could hardly find a more appropriate gift with more meaning.
So how does one give the gift of reading? Aside from buying someone the books they will read, it is rather easy. It won’t break the bank as there is no hard cost to this gift. All you need to do is to read to someone who doesn’t know how to read. Share your skill, your love of reading and you will have passed on this all important tool for life.
Do you have a grandchild, a niece or nephew? Is there a neighborhood child that you might help out? Try volunteering at your local library, or school, or better yet, give some time to an area literacy center. Yes, that means training and time, but such a gift should be something from your heart and your time and talent, freely given, may well be the most precious gift of all.
Simply sit down and offer to read to that young child (although, at the literacy centers, you may well end up with an adult who wants to finally learn to read – so much the better!). Show them how much you enjoy reading. Ask them to read to you. Help them to understand what it is that has just been read. Teach them to be critical readers. Your time, your talents, and your love of reading will provide the very best example for the listener.
Now, I know, it is much easier to simply head to the store and get “something” they would like, using a minimum of one’s valuable time. We are all pretty busy. But, if a gift is to have real meaning, and not just help the economists’ projections, it should reflect some aspect of you. Reading is just exactly that.
Try doing this simple exercise. Ask your grandchild, child, niece or nephew, or an acquaintance if you can read to them. Ask them to select the book they want you to read. Then, as you lead them through the pages and adventures within the book’s covers, catch a glimpse of their face. If they are not sitting in rapt attention, eyes intently focused on the page, well, I’ll eat my hat!
So this holiday season, whether you are gifting for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwaanza, or any other celebration, be a bit subversive and spend your personal capital on the gift of reading. I’ll bet that it will be a gift you see used year after year!
Red Rock News
Date: November 23, 2007
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season. I know, I know, nowadays it begins closer to the 4th of July, but that is not the point of this column. Rather, it is the act of holiday giving that I would like to focus on. In our great nation, we see this season’s gift giving not in its original form, that of the three kings bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, but as a measure of the financial health of our nation. Percentage increases in sales over last year, what those numbers forebode, whether we will survive as a nation with or without sufficient consumption at this time of year – it’s all a bit too much.
I would suggest that the concept of gifting is appropriate, both at this time of year and throughout the rest of the eleven months, but that we consider shifting our focus to more meaningful gifts. How about we consider gifting a skill, our time, our attention and concern for others through actions that speak from the heart, rather than from the wallet?
What I am talking about is the skill of, the love for reading. That would be a gift that would not end up in the landfill, or being re-gifted (unless the reader decided to pass on their love of reading). It is an essential skill for getting ahead, for being successful in life. One could hardly find a more appropriate gift with more meaning.
So how does one give the gift of reading? Aside from buying someone the books they will read, it is rather easy. It won’t break the bank as there is no hard cost to this gift. All you need to do is to read to someone who doesn’t know how to read. Share your skill, your love of reading and you will have passed on this all important tool for life.
Do you have a grandchild, a niece or nephew? Is there a neighborhood child that you might help out? Try volunteering at your local library, or school, or better yet, give some time to an area literacy center. Yes, that means training and time, but such a gift should be something from your heart and your time and talent, freely given, may well be the most precious gift of all.
Simply sit down and offer to read to that young child (although, at the literacy centers, you may well end up with an adult who wants to finally learn to read – so much the better!). Show them how much you enjoy reading. Ask them to read to you. Help them to understand what it is that has just been read. Teach them to be critical readers. Your time, your talents, and your love of reading will provide the very best example for the listener.
Now, I know, it is much easier to simply head to the store and get “something” they would like, using a minimum of one’s valuable time. We are all pretty busy. But, if a gift is to have real meaning, and not just help the economists’ projections, it should reflect some aspect of you. Reading is just exactly that.
Try doing this simple exercise. Ask your grandchild, child, niece or nephew, or an acquaintance if you can read to them. Ask them to select the book they want you to read. Then, as you lead them through the pages and adventures within the book’s covers, catch a glimpse of their face. If they are not sitting in rapt attention, eyes intently focused on the page, well, I’ll eat my hat!
So this holiday season, whether you are gifting for Christmas, Chanukah, Kwaanza, or any other celebration, be a bit subversive and spend your personal capital on the gift of reading. I’ll bet that it will be a gift you see used year after year!
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