Friends of the Library Book Sale:
Friday, April 19, 5:30 to 7:00 pm: Preview for Friends of the Sedona Library members and volunteers.
Saturday, April 20 – Sunday, April 28: Book Sale during regular library hours and noon to 4 pm on Sundays.
By Cheryl Yeatts, Manager of Sedona Public Library in the Village
Sedona AZ (April 19, 2013) – There’s no doubt about it. People love libraries. Patrons of Sedona Public Library have described it as a jewel, a treasure, a safe haven. And they’re not the only ones who value their library.
The American Library Association (ALA) website ilovelibraries.org explains the value of local libraries this way: If you’re looking for the heart of any community, look no further than the local library. It’s the one place in America where the doors are open to everyone. It is America’s great equalizer, providing everyone the same access to information and opportunities for success.
During the week of April 14-20, Sedona Public Library joins libraries in schools, campuses and communities nationwide in celebrating National Library Week, a time to highlight the value of libraries, librarians and library workers. National Library Week has been sponsored by the ALA and libraries across the country each April since 1958. This year’s theme is Communities Matter @ Your Library. Caroline Kennedy is the National Library Week Honorary Chair.
Like all local libraries, Sedona Public Library plays a vital role in this community. While it’s difficult to place a monetary value on services provided by the library, Howard Ripy, a regular library patron at Sedona Public Library in the Village, shared this information about his library use:
“We mostly use the library to check out DVDs and nonfiction books. The biggest dollar savings we’ve had is in the DVD area. Over the last year we checked out around four DVDs per week on average. This resulted in a savings of $400 to over $700 depending on what DVD rental rate you use. In addition, about a year ago we decided to cancel our subscription to satellite TV since we rarely watched any programs that were not movies, documentaries or TV series that are available on DVD. That saved us over $1,600 per year. So for us using the Sedona Library has resulted in saving over $2,000 this last year.”
When asked about the importance of the library, Hiroko A. Miyakawa, Ph.D. offered her perspective:
“As a volunteer for the Sedona Public Library, I acknowledge the excellent repository of literary, documentary, media and event resources that are offered at the library. Moreover, these resources are supported by the ever-adapting technology to meet the needs of library patrons. When thinking of the ‘treasures’ found in the Sedona Public Library . . . watch the positive human relationships developed and nurtured between the library staff and the community they service. On a daily basis, the librarians and the volunteers interact with regular and new patrons to the library, young and old citizens of Sedona, visitors to the Verde Valley, the multi-cultural faction of this community, and agencies and organizations that offer services and support.
“Most importantly, the Sedona Public Library uses the human aspect effectively in meeting, greeting, communicating and assisting people. I would summarize the Sedona Public Library as offering gracious civility with a pleasant smile.”
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