Village News

By: Cheryl Yeatts
For: The Villager
Date: April 2013

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

As I considered these profound words by Winston Churchill, I immediately thought of the volunteers at Sedona Public Library in the Village (SPL-V). According to this quote, these volunteers must lead rich and abundant lives. They are committed to helping library patrons, visitors and me. Thanks to their unselfish efforts, the library runs smoothly. They make my job easier. The volunteers are always willing to do more than is expected. Besides assisting with circulation, they attend trainings and help with eReader workshops. I would like to personally thank the volunteers at SPL-V and to dedicate this article to these outstanding individuals: Mary Clement, Eddie Gibson, Valerie Girard, Joy Greaves, Thomas Hofmann, Janice LaDuke, Marie Olivarez, Julie Pawelak, Kathi Sartwell, Diane Schwilling, Carol Stetser, Florence Shreve, Bruce Vegter and Dennis Young.

When I decided to write an article in celebration of library volunteers, I discovered that I really did not know much about them. I posed some questions and learned a great deal. Not a single volunteer at SPL-V was born in Arizona. They hail from Illinois, New York, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Colorado, Kansas, Ohio, California, Texas and Michigan. One volunteer was born in Berlin, Germany! Before retiring and moving to Arizona, they were employed by hospitals, corporations, school districts, and the U.S. postal service. They enjoy living in Sedona and feel the need to give back to their community. Besides volunteering at the library, many individuals also donate their time and talents to the Sedona Humane Society, the Sedona Historical Society, and their churches.

I was curious about why people enjoy volunteering at the library, so I went right to the source. Their favorite part about volunteering is interacting with people. Many volunteers worked at Sedona Public Library (SPL) before the Village Service Center opened in 2006. Three volunteers spend time at both Sedona Public Library and SPL-V. Obviously, they enjoy working at the library because 14 volunteers have a combined total of 119 years of service to the library. In 2012, fourteen volunteers logged 1,150 service hours at SPL-V. That's a lot of hours considering the library is open 20 hours per week.

Of course, the volunteers love books and reading. They serve as excellent resources for titles and authors. If you need something to read, the volunteers are always eager to recommend books. They have varied interests and are well-read individuals. Also, they are knowledgeable about what others are reading and will gladly help patrons search the library catalog to locate the right book.

The volunteers at SPL-V are amazing. I greatly appreciate their efforts, and I know you do, too. In fact, Barbara Boeh, one of our regular patrons, never leaves the library without saying, "Thank you for your service." Her kind words make the volunteers feel special. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week April 21-27, we should take a moment to acknowledge all volunteers. They truly make a difference.

The display of the Northern Arizona Stitchers Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America (EGA) continues through Saturday, May 11. Don't miss the beautiful, detailed creations of Leigh Shafer, Barbara Baker-Rosenberg, Margaret Azpeitia-Taylor, Sherry Shively, and Betty Gaudy. On display at SPL-V, you may see embroidered quilts, wall hangings, ornaments, pictures and embroidered apparel. A variety of techniques makes each piece unique and memorable.

Mark your calendar for the community book discussion on Monday, April 22, at Sedona Winds, 405 Jacks Canyon Road. The program, which is free and open to the public, begins at 1:30 p.m. The discussion will focus on "Hunger of Memory: The Education of Richard Rodriguez." This story is the autobiography of Richard Rodriguez, a Mexican-American who begins his schooling in Sacramento, California, knowing just 50 words of English, and concludes his university studies in the stately quiet of the reading room of the British Museum. Marcela Saldivia-Berglund, Latino Services Coordinator at Sedona Public Library, will facilitate the book discussion. Pick up your free loaner copy of the book at SPL-V.

Sedona Public Library in the Village is located at 7000 Highway 179, Suite C-102, in the courtyard of Tequa Plaza. Library hours are 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. The library is closed Sunday and Monday. When the library is closed, please return library materials to the book drop box. If you have questions or need directions to SPL-V, you may contact Cheryl Yeatts, site manager, at 928.284.1603 or voc@sedonalibrary.org.

The Sedona Public Library is a private, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, supported by donations and grants. Your tax-deductible donation may be sent to: Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336. Thank you for your continuing support of library services in the Village of Oak Creek.

Library News appears each Friday in the Red Rock News and is also presented on Sedona Biz.
Cheryl Yeatts is Manager of the Sedona Public Library in the Village.

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