Grants Awarded to Sedona Public Library

Sedona Public Library has been fortunate to receive a number of grants this year that will allow us to improve and expand services.

At the recent "Spirit of Sedona" awards presentation we received funding from the Sedona Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Arizona Community Foundation. A disc cleaner will be purchased with our award, in order to put damaged DVDs and books on CD back in circulation. The Library received an additional donation from the Sedona Community Foundation, as one of the designated charities of Design Group Architects, the Business Benefactor of the year.

Yavapai County is providing matching funds to pay for RFID equipment. Friends of the Sedona Library provided funds to purchase additional RFID equipment and funds to pay for the reorganization of the library.

Sedona Public Library in the Village (SPL-V) received two technology grants awarded by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State. Funds from the first grant were used to purchase five new desktop computers and five laptop computers for free public use. The second competitive grant was used to buy other equipment, including e-reader devices that eventually will be available for checkout. With these grants, we plan to offer more technology workshops at SPL-V, and we hope to secure additional grant funds to continue instructional programs and other services in the future.

We are taking advantage of these technology grants by offering computer workshops, including an introduction to computers, an introduction to e-mail, and a program to explain e-reader basics. Look for upcoming workshops in January of 2013.

In addition to technology grants, SPL-V also received grants from the Sedona 30 and the Friends of the Sedona Library to purchase and install a new book drop box. The larger, divided book drop box is designed to hold 240 books and 525 DVDs. While many people appreciated the old curbside location of the drop boxes, we relocated the book drop boxes to a more protected location closer to the building.

We appreciate the support and generosity of the local non-profit organizations Sedona Community Foundation, the Sedona 30, and the Friends of the Sedona Library. Funding from the State of Arizona and Yavapai County has enabled us to provide up-to-date equipment to the community.

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 support of library services in West Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek.

Library News appears each Friday in the Red Rock News and is also presented on: Gate way to Sedona and Sedona Biz.
Virginia Volkman is Director of the Sedona Public Library.