It seems like it was only yesterday – November 13, 2022 to be exact – when I made enough of my award-winning chili to feed more than 400 people at the grand opening of the Library’s new outdoor space: the Commons. Still reeling from my People’s Choice win at the Rotary Club of Sedona’s Chili Cook-off the weekend before, this culinary delight was a great way to officially welcome Sedona into this beautiful courtyard. Next time you visit, I’ll be happy to show you the medals, the trophy, and walk you out to the Commons, too.
Located between the Library and the Friends of the Sedona Library Book Store at the end of White Bear Road, the Commons has become a gathering place for the community, and an additional location for library programs. Since the grand opening and ribbon cutting two years ago, this space continues to host live music, celebrations, and marshmallow roasting around the Friends’ Fire Circle.
You may remember when the Library conducted a Community Needs Assessment in 2020-2021, with the goal of determining what Sedona and Verde Valley residents need. Residents wanted a place they could call their own, that would capture the beauty of the landscape, and that would help build a sense of community that many feared they had lost. The Commons is just the beginning of creating that sense of community for all of us.
Oh, how far we have come in (almost) two years! The Commons has played host to a great many Library and community events, large and small. And it’s common to find a group of friends, family, or just folks on their own, hanging out around the Fire Circle, sunning themselves on the big Adirondack chairs reading a book, or taking advantage of the Wi-Fi – yes, the signal reaches out to the Commons!
The Commons is a perfect location for fun events like last summer’s 65th anniversary celebration of the library, the Rotary Club of Sedona, and the Sedona Arts Center. The Verde Valley Weavers and Spinners Guild also celebrated an anniversary here. This elite team of fiber artists yarn-bombed the furnishings and plant life throughout the Commons. It was a fun, colorful, and generous event where patrons were gifted the sweaters, socks, hats, or mittens they found.
Star gazers have had the opportunity to take a seat and look up to witness the solar eclipse, twice! In fact, this year, on April 1, all were welcomed to tell the sun (out loud) what they really thought about it, and lots of yelling filled the air! The Verde Valley Woodcarvers taught soap carving, guiding practiced and new whittlers on how to make bears and cactus. The best part of that program was that if a mess was made, it just washed away. My personal favorite program on the Commons has been Storytelling Court at the Friends’ Fire Circle, most often on the last Wednesday of the month, when weather permits.
Last spring the Commons was blessed with Ruben Saufkie Sr., a Water Clan member from the Second Mesa, a skilled silversmith and traditional storyteller, who shared captivating insights into Hopi traditions. This was the first of Celebrating Indigenous Cultures program – a series of presentations introducing and honoring the cultures, and rich history of the native people of the area.
Next up in that series was the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. A group committed to supporting all people to reclaim their relationship with Mother Earth, advocating for a shift towards a more conscious and harmonious relationship with nature and all living beings.
This space has served the community well, but it may have been its loudest and most colorful when Summer Reading was celebrated last August. As big as the space is, when you fill it with children, books, balloons, bubbles, face paint, prizes, and pure joy, it felt wonderfully full.
Just last month, at day’s end, the sunset served as a perfect backdrop for two programs lifting up the local Hispanic community. In partnership with the Sedona International Film Festival, the award-winning film “La Vita è Bella” (Life Is Beautiful) was screened on SIFF’s mobile movie truck set up in front of the Friends Book Store. Then in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the community gathered around the Friends’ Fire Circle to celebrate with food, song, dance and s’mores. All enjoyed the opportunity to meet neighbors and friends.
Finally, we’re not kidding when we say the space is gorgeous. In fact, a local family chose it as the space for their wedding rehearsal gathering. How cool that a library was the location for such a special day! Congrats to Whitney and Mitchell Renehan of Sydney, Australia and a big thank you to Ann and John Regalski, wonderful library patrons, for letting us be a part of that fun memory with their family, especially those who came from as far away as Australia. Who knew that Australians don’t do s’mores around a fire? It was a treat to see them gather around the Fire Circle and partake in this American, and now Library, rite of passage.
At Sedona Public Library, we believe that libraries should be thriving, vibrant places that offer materials, programs, services, and spaces designed, indoors and out, specifically for their communities. We know our community deserves a library like this. Sedona Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit sedonalibrary.org/donate or send your check to Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road, Sedona, AZ 86336.
As published by Red Rock News
Library News Column for November 1, 2024, by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Scheduling Coordinator
