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    Home » Spanish Language Collection And Latino Services
    Sedona Public Library

    Spanish Language Collection And Latino Services

    March 20, 2012No Comments5 Mins Read
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    samaireformayor
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    By Marcela Saldivia, PhD

    Sedona AZ (March 20, 2012) – Why a Spanish collection? This question was posed by some Sedona residents when they learned that Sedona Public Library had invested time and money in developing a Spanish-language collection. The answer to this question is very straightforward: because there is a huge need to supply information services to the increasing Hispanic population. You might think that this answer is too simplistic to justify the existence of a growing collection (over 2,000 items) in a language other than English. However, the reality strikes us plain and simple: statistics reveal the importance of reaching out to the Latino community because it stands as the largest minority group in the United States, comprising over 48.4 million and continuing to grow. This significant figure is the reason why around the nation, public libraries are actively implementing and promoting library information literacy and services to Latinos. It is estimated that in Sedona over 10% of the population is of Hispanic origin. They represent an important rubric for the growth of Sedona’s economy because they are both consumers as well as hard-working people.

    Marcela SaldiviaRecently I was in Mexico on vacation, and I took the opportunity to acquire Spanish language materials for Sedona Public Library. I went to one of the biggest and most complete bookstores in Latin America and indulged in selecting audiolibros (books on CD), movies, and music for the expansion and development of our existing Spanish collection. Many current books are now available in Spanish translation, such as the new Steve Jobs biography, self-help book by mind-body healer Deepak Chopra, and fiction by John Grisham. This is in keeping with the ultimate goal of Latino Services, which is to reach out to the Hispanic community and connect them with information and services to better their quality of life, and to build their capacity to engage in the larger community. We believe that well-informed Latinos become engaged and productive members of our community.

    In addition to continuing development of the Spanish collection, I also seek to disseminate accurate information and offer effective services that will help Hispanics to successfully integrate into all realms of American life. This year I am offering computer literacy classes in Spanish for the third year in a row every Monday during the months of March and April. As part of the services the library offers to Latinos, I have also scheduled ongoing ESL (English as a Second Language) classes every Wednesday night for the entire year of 2012. These classes wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteer ESL teacher Gail Basham. Gail’s unconditional enthusiasm and professionalism are the most important ingredients for the success of our ESL classes, which draw around 15 to 18 students every week. This effort goes both ways, because English-speaking community members also expressed their interest in learning Spanish. I offer informal conversation meetings, “Hablamos Español” every first and third Thursday for beginners, and every second and fourth Thursday for “avanzados.”

    Another way that Latino Services helps our community is through programs that seek to educate the non-Spanish-speakers about the cultural diversity of the Hispanic world. The role of the library, as I see it, is to reach out to both Spanish and English speakers, including a culturally diverse array of residents and tourists. The Spanish-language collection also brings to the library non-Hispanics interested in reading Spanish books and in practicing their language skills. The same can be said about my programs designed to reach out to everyone regardless of their ethnic background. The main purpose of my services, programs, and events is to bridge cultures in the context of the multicultural and diverse nature of the Sedona population. I also keep in mind that the Sedona Hispanic community is represented by a substantial number of residents not only from our neighboring country in the south but also from a wide range of Latin American republics, namely, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia just to mention a few. Everyone deserves excellence in service and should receive undivided attention when it comes to information services and entertainment.

    A Latino Services initiative is not unique to Sedona Public Library, but is rather a nationwide effort at public and college libraries. Now more than ever, programs for Spanish speakers at libraries around the country are seeing record attendance and getting positive feedback from participants. Libraries are offering information services targeted to new immigrants, including English-language learning, computer instruction, children’s concurrent programming, job search workshops and resources, GED workshops, family literacy programming, and training on successfully communicating with library decision makers, staff, community leaders and officials. We are proud that Sedona Public Library is always breaking ground with its variety of information services at all levels. Come to our library and see all that Latino Services has to offer our culturally diverse patrons.

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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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