In 1958, a group of Sedona residents came together to establish the town’s first library in a donated space. They brought with them three shelves of books and magazines, which were also donated. The library moved into a building on Jordan Road in 1969 and then moved into its current, 25,500-square-foot building in 1994. Today, the Sedona Public Library is part of the Yavapai Library Network, which boasts 1,334,863 resources for its users. This month, the nonprofit will celebrate its 60th anniversary with a community party on April 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. The party includes a presentation, poetry reading, live music, an exhibit on the library’s history, refreshments and renderings of the soon-tobe-remodeled interior space. There will also be events happening at the library’s adjacent used bookstore. Throughout the year, look for more library events with a “60” theme: film screenings featuring movies from 1958 and the 1960s and summer reading programs for children and adults with reading goals in increments of 60. “The library was founded by citizens and continues to operate as a nonprofit,” says Sheila Hoffmeyer, a Sedona Public Library Board trustee. “It’s more than just books. It’s a gathering place where the community comes together to discuss issues, share ideas and learn. We offer programs that meet the needs of everyone whether you live here or are just passing through for the day.”
For more information, visit www.sedonalibrary.org or call 928-282-7714. – Erika Ayn Finch
