Sedona Public Library
The Sedona Public Library is located at 3250 White Bear Road. Like other libraries, it is not directed to collect or display historically significant artifacts. However, as is the case in most libraries in the county, there are some historic artifacts in the library, the bulk of which are art objects.
History of the Sedona Public Library
In 1958 Sedona volunteers formed a Friends of the Library group and began Sedona's first library with three shelves of donated books housed in a space that was also donated. By 1966, with over 6,000 volumes, the library was incorporated, and Eugenia Wright and Helen Ecker donated land on Jordan Road for a library building.
Less than twenty years later, the space again proved too small. In 1985, a campaign for a larger building was begun. At that time, Ethel M. Low donated a large sum of money for the land for the present library. Groundbreaking took place on October 2, 1991, and the new library was opened in June 1994 with citizens participating in a virtual parade called, "Books Across Sedona."
The present location was dedicated formally in October 1 with Senator Barry Goldwater giving the keynote address, 26 years after he had spoken at a similar ceremony for the first Sedona Library.
Artifacts
Art
Display: wooden and glass case, In Memory of Helen Smith, 6 shelves of shells, shelves about 10" x 3'
Painting, Cynthia Bennett, canyon, no date, approximately 18" x 24"
Painting, Leslie DeMille, 1985, large painting of canyon landscape
Painting, Mar, three pots and a feather, approximately 18" x 20"
Painting, sand painting, no further information
Print, Steinke, signed, numbered print, bust of Native American girl, approximately 18" x 24"
Sculpture, linear, Nancy Robb Dunst, "Hey come on over," wood and fiber, Boys and Girls Club, Friends
of the Library
Sculpture: Sedona Schnebly, 1877-1951, bronze, approximately 12 feet from base to top. A plaque reads: Sedona Miller Schnebly, 1877-1951, for whom our city is named, enriched the lives of those she touched
and contributed to our history. She is celebrated for her hospitality, industriousness and her commitment to education for people of all ages. We pay tribute to her pioneer spirit." Susan Kliewer artist, donated to the Citizens of Sedona by the Red Rocks Arts Council 1994; City of Sedona Art Collection
Textile hanging, Draxler, Cindy, Butterflies and Friends, in appreciation of library programming for
children, fabric, quilted and appliquÈd, approximately 3'x4'
Triptych: "Sedona Flood Story February 19, 1993," artist, Karen Licher, part of the City of Sedona Art
Collection placed at the Sedona Public Library through the cooperation of the Sedona Public Library Board and the City of Sedona. The work is three dimensional, canvas, found objects, and covers about 10' x 12' on one of the library's walls
