It’s hard to believe that last year at this time we were happily planning the grand opening of a new library branch. Those were exciting, albeit busy, days! And on that gorgeous, early-November, autumn day in 2021, we opened Sedona Public Library in the Village to rave reviews, and the success continues. The Library is up and running; it is well- loved, well-used, helping hundreds of people and offering dozens of programs. Now, almost a year later, what’s keeping us busy? Well, it’s still the Village Library, but now we’re planning our first inaugural fundraising event. Have you bought your tickets for Novel Night? There’s still time!
On Saturday, October 1, you can join other library supporters for a wonderful evening celebrating literature, literacy, libraries, and community. For this innovative event you’ll choose from seven amazing book-themed costume dinner parties hosted in the Village of Oak Creek and then for continued entertainment, fun, and a silent auction, you’ll attend the After Party at the Village Library. Maybe you’ll win a golf twosome at Seven Canyons or the Calvin Toddy originals!
In all this planning that keeps us busy in the Library’s business office, a question often comes up: “How will you use the proceeds from Novel Night?” Good question, and thanks for asking. The proceeds from this October 1 fundraising event will support programs and services at Sedona Public Library in the Village. In fact, we now have a full program line-up, many services, and high-quality technology and Wi-Fi, as well as a great collection. Our door counts average 100 visitors every day.
We’re especially excited about our new partnership with OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) and to offer OLLI classes in our new Javelina Room. Other programs at the Village Library include Storytime; Beginning Spanish; Notary Public Wednesdays; Tech Tuesdays, Toddler Red Rock Drumming, and soon we hope to introduce an SPLV Movie Night. In July we hosted the Arizona Science Center’s Camp Innovation, which was a summer hit for many families, and later this month we have Sedona Arts for Peace photography exhibit.
Many groups have already made use of the large, recently-opened Javelina Room including local HOA’s, the City of Sedona, Yavapai County, and Sedona Sister Cities. This meeting space has great technology, brand new furniture, and is big enough for groups of 50 participants. Additionally, the Village Library has three small meeting rooms, a children’s area, ample seating and study areas, public computers and two beautiful furnished patios. Now that the weather is (hopefully!) going to get cooler, we’re sure to see more use in these outdoor spaces with a fabulous view of Castle Rock.
And the great news is that when you buy tickets for Novel Night, you help support all of this! We’ve only been open in this location for ten months but look at all we’ve done. Imagine what we can do with continued support!
What better way to show how much you care than to attend the most “novel” fundraiser in town! So, order your tickets soon! They’re $100 each and include the themed dinner you choose as well as the After Party. Your dinner choices can’t be guaranteed, but there is simply no bad choice in the party options! Learn full details at sedonalibrary.org, click on the Novel Night logo, and order your tickets today!
Many thanks to our event sponsors including Sedona Village Partnership, Sedona Vista Village, the planning committee, the dinner hosts, the Library Board of Trustees, and the many contributors to our silent auction. And many thanks to our technology and meeting room sponsors. You’ve made it happen! Interested in sponsoring this fun event? For all questions, contact Anne Marie at amackler@sedonalibrary.org. Want to rent a room at the Village Library? Contact Janmarc@sedonalibrary.org.
See you on Novel Night!
Sedona Public Library
Library News Column for September 16, 2022
Written by Anne Marie Mackler, Development Director