Friends of the Sedona Library

By David Keeber | Sedona Public Library

Sedona, AZ - Oct 17, 2008 - Everybody needs a friend. Sedona Public Library is lucky to have lots of Friends in the form of its wonderful Friends of the Sedona Library organization. October 19 – 25, 2008 is the week during which libraries all over the nation celebrate the accomplishments of their Friends groups. We here in Sedona are no different, so celebrate!

In 1968, our local Friends group was officially organized, but long before that we had Friends. In fact, it was an ad hoc Friends group that started this Library in 1958. Begun as a small collection of books lent on the honor system out of the Sheriff's office on Jordan Road, were it not for this cadre of people who believed that Sedona deserved a library, it might have been many years later before such a much-needed facility was begun.

Through the years, the Friends have shared books in larger and larger numbers as that original collection grew. They were instrumental in the work to build the original library building in the 1960's. They were there when the Board of Trustees began to look at expanding or replacing the first library building on Jordan Road with something larger. They held a Street Fair to raise the initial $4,000 that provided the impetus to construct the current building on White Bear Road. And throughout all the years, the Friends of the Library have held book sales, dinners, book talks, and much more to ensure that the Library could provide the services that this community needed.

As you walk the aisles here, look up and notice the lattice ceiling above you. That was a purchase of the Friends. All the shelving you see that hold the books was purchased by the Friends. Computers, furniture, equipment – all have been bolstered by donations from the Friends.

If you have a child that has participated in our Summer Reading Programs, you can thank the Friends. They have funded this array of programs for its entire history here at the Library. They have provided jazz concerts, chamber music events, book sales as previously mentioned, and of course the book sales.

During the week of October 20 to 27, the Friends will once again hold their Fall Book Sale. In the past, these have been multi-week events, but this year, the Friends are trying to keep it to one week. This means that you will need to pay attention and not hold off until ensuing weeks to find the bargains you have in the past.

Why such a short sale? Another thing that the Friends do is to manage the programs we offer here which now number more than 500 events each year! With so demand for meeting and program space, a shorter book sale was deemed a necessary move.

During the week of this Fall Book Sale, be sure to stop by the Friends of the Library information table to learn more about the organization and to become a Friend yourself. Membership is for a year and you dues provide the Friends part of the money they use to help the Library. There will also be information about the upcoming Festival of Wreaths, our annual event and fund raiser in which we offer for sale the creative talents of the community in the form of wreaths and other holiday decorations.

Everyone needs a Friend and we ask that you support the Friends of the Sedona Library, become a Friend yourself, and patronize their many efforts to help the Library. You'll be glad you did!