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    Home » Annual Report for Sedona Public Library
    Sedona Public Library

    Annual Report for Sedona Public Library

    June 28, 2013Updated:June 25, 2013No Comments5 Mins Read
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    By Virginia Volkman, Library Director

    logo_sedonapubliclibrarySedona AZ (June 28, 2013) – Sedona Public Library’s 2013 fiscal year ended May 31.  During this time we experienced another year of growth and change.  The library remains relevant by providing new and innovative services and programs. 

    We’re proud of the following accomplishments during the year:

    • We introduced new programs for children:  Flicks for Kids started during the summer and continued during the year; a Tween Book Club was launched.
    • We celebrated 18 years in our current location on White Bear Road on June 6, 2012. At the event we unveiled a new courtyard mural.  Highlights of the celebration can be found on the Library’s YouTube channel.
    • A speaker’s bureau was established, with members of the Board of Trustees and staff available to give a PowerPoint presentation about our history, services, and roles as both a library and as a community center and meeting place.
    • The Library reorganized much of the adult collection, which resulted in an arrangement that is easier to use and makes better use of our space.  Friends of Sedona Library funded the project.
    • We installed a new book drop at SPL-V with funding from the Sedona 30 organization and Friends of Sedona Library
    • We received an LSTA grant for SPL-V, titled “Connect and Learn @ Your Library.”  11 Nook e-readers loaded with e-books were purchased with the funds and the Nooks are now available for check-out.  The grant enabled the Library to acquire demonstration models of additional e-reader devices and to offer several free workshops and one-on-one instruction for downloading library books to e-reader devices.  A grant-funded projector is being used for the workshops.
    • Five desktop computers and five laptop computers were purchased for SPL-V with federal stimulus funds from the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program and a 20% matching grant from Friends of Sedona Library
    • We installed two computers that were obtained through the federal Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, as part of the AZ Job Center, a program to provide help to job-seekers.  Each computer features Office 2010, resume creation software, and an attached printer offering printing, scanning, and copying.
    • Through a grant from the Sedona Community Foundation we purchased a new disc cleaner and 40 DVDs from the Criterion Collection series. 
    • We changed our phone carrier and negotiated new copy machine contracts for cost reductions.
    • We began to manage our website in-house to provide more timely updates.
    • Improvements to the building and grounds were made. We upgraded most of the lights from T-12 to T-8 for energy efficiency and received a rebate from APS.  Sedona Area Garden Club replaced many of the plants in the two atria.  The Community Room was painted.
    • New online resources added during the year are Zinio, which offers full digital copies of magazines and is funded by the Arizona State Library; and UniversalClass, which offers online, self-paced, continuing education classes and is provided by Yavapai Library Network in association with Yavapai County Free Library District.
    • We completed the placement of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags on our materials.  This enabled us to change to a more efficient security system and install quick and easy self-checkout stations. We continue to offer assisted checkout, staffed by our friendly and helpful library volunteers.  Funding for the project was provided by grants from Yavapai County and Friends of Sedona Library.
    • We initiated a free monthly health screening program, provided by Northern Arizona Healthcare.  The screening measures cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood glucose.
    • Latino Services worked with City of Sedona Mayor Rob Adams to present a Hispanic Community Forum.  Latino Services also hosted the Adelante of Verde Valley Community Discussions.

    Our primary service continues to be that of a traditional library – we check out books, movies and audio books.  In fiscal year 2013 we checked out 228,269 items, down just 1% from last year.  The library is not just a place to pick up and check out materials.  People still flock to the library to read the daily newspaper, the latest issue of a magazine, use financial or other reference material, attend a program, or use a computer.   

    This year 30% of our computer sessions were visitors who used our computers for checking e-mail, printing out boarding passes or searching the Internet.   Our children’s computers were used by school children for Internet searches and by preschoolers for the educational games we offer in English and Spanish.

    831 programs were offered by the library and attendance at them was 14,094.   Our biggest audiences were for the summer reading program, Monday night movies, and Verde Valley Medical Center lectures.  Our partnership with the volunteer AARP tax service helped to process approximately 500 tax returns. 

    We offered computer literacy classes in Spanish, ESL classes, Hispanic knitting classes, and bilingual story times.  We also held family-oriented programs, such as the Hispanic Heritage Celebration held in September, which included a mariachi band and food donated by local restaurants.

    The library’s meeting rooms were used by 50 non-profit groups on a regular basis, by various commercial groups, and by the City of Sedona.  Display space was also offered to local organizations.

    Statistics for SPL in the Village show an increase or holding steady in most areas.  Grants have allowed us to offer additional services.  Circulation (number of items checked out) went up 6%, from 21,264 to 24,589.  There was an increase in computer use and in the number of programs offered.

    Staff, board members and volunteers continue to bring new ideas to our operation and attract new audiences.  Volunteers contributed 16,626 hours of service to the Library last year. Through the involvement and commitment of our community, Sedona Public Library continues to be a successful private/public collaboration and there’s no indication that this will change in the near future.

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    Paid Political Ad Paid For by Samaire for Mayor
    Paid Political Ad for Samaire Armstrong
    Paid Political Announcement by Samaire For Mayor

     THE MOMENT IS UPON US

    Dear Sedona,

    The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

    The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

    Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

    This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

    I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

    City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

    I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

    Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

    The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

    It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

    It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

    For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

    Creative solutions require new energy.

    Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

    • Does this decision benefit the residents?
    • Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
    • Does this decision actually help the environment?
    • Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

    What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

    Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

    We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

    The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

    As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

    As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth.  After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

    As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

    I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

    Thank you deeply for your consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Samaire Armstrong

    Sedona elections
    Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    Ready to Rumble

    By Tommy Acosta
    In the Blue Corner stands Scott Jablow and in the Red Corner of the ring stands Samaire Armstrong, ready to rumble to the bitter end in their fight to become the next Sedona mayor. Jablow weighs in with 1,137 primary election votes (36.13%) under his belt, having wielded his advantage as sitting Sedona City Council vice-mayor to his favor. He brings his years of serving in that capacity into the fray and waged a solid fight in his campaign to make it to the run-off. Armstrong, however withstood a blistering smear campaign from the other opposing candidates and their supporters to make it to the final bout with 967 votes under her belt (30.73%), an amazing feat for a political newcomer. Unfortunately, for the other two candidates, Kurt Gehlbach and sitting mayor Sandy Moriarty, neither put up enough of a fight to make it to the championship bout. Read more→
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