Though Virginia “Ginny” Volkman won’t be officially retiring as director of Sedona Public Library until the end of the year, she has already had three interviews about her 18 years at the SPL and four decades in the field, and dozens of well wishes and cards from community members.

Volkman attributed some of that fanfare to the scope of her tenure.

“It’s probably not that common for someone to start their career with an organization, leave for 24 years, and then return to end their career at the same place, with an institutional history that spans over 40 years.”

She also noted what she was able to help bring to the library during that time: Early literacy programs still in use now, much-needed services to veterans and the Latino community, the establishment of the first Village of Oak Creek library and the used book store.

While she was director, SPL earned national recog­nition as one of Library Journal’s Star Libraries for the last five years, and a Spirit of Sedona community collaboration award for part­nering with local organiza­tions, leading to things like candidate forums and health screenings at the library.

Volkman started at the Sedona library in January 1979, when it was still on Jordan Road in Uptown.

Besides the fact that at just 5,000 square feet, the building was a fifth of the size of the main library’s current White Bear Road building, the shelves looked much different than they do today, too.

“The Jordan Road library in the late 1970s had a collection of books, magazines and newspapers printed on paper, and vinyl records. That was it. No audio books. No movies. No computers with internet access,” Volkman recalled.

Sedona library’s first computer was introduced in 1979, when mainframe computers were still stan­dard, she said. The device was “a TRS-80 micro­computer [courtesy of the local Radio Shack], with a cassette recorder as a periph­eral device. Patrons learned to write simple programs on the computer and there were a few games available.”

“Computers with internet access have allowed us to find answers to questions faster than ever before,” Volkman added. “But we don’t just give out answers now; we help people learn how to find answers for themselves online and teach them how to operate the devices to get them online.”

In her first few years, Volkman said that she and her team of volunteers “were dreaming of an expanded building space, but we never imagined e-books and online databases.”

As the 1970s turned into the ’80s, the first portable movies surfaced.

“VHS technology was still relatively new and most people couldn’t afford to buy a video player — we rented one from the local video shop for the weekend, along with a few movies. Now the library checks out thousands of DVDs each month and offers streaming movies.”

In the summer of 1985, Volkman and husband Nick moved to Pennsylvania, closer to her family in New York. There, the couple raised their two children and Volkman worked at a library near Philadelphia for 24 years. However, Sedona beckoned, and the couple returned in June 2009. Volkman resumed her director role at the SPL, this time at its West Sedona loca­tion, witnessing even more advances in the library’s technology and programs. Her last year proved to be one of the most novel ones yet, and one of the most challenging, she said.

“When the library was closed to the public it was eerily quiet as I and a few other staff members continued to work in the building,” Volkman said of the shutdown due to COVID-19. “It was great when we were able to bring people back in and have it feel a bit more normal. There was a silver lining in hearing from our patrons how important the library is to them and how happy they are to be back to browsing the collection and using the computers.”

Volkman doesn’t think the changes that have occurred in libraries due to the pandemic will last forever.

“Libraries will go back to being gathering places for individuals and places for groups to meet,” she said. “More people have been taking advantage of digital offerings during the pandemic and it’s opened a whole new world to them, so if anything, our outreach will have expanded.”

One thing that has stayed steady for over 40 years is the Sedona library’s extremely avid volunteers.

“The large number of volunteers actively involved and its nonprofit status make Sedona different from most public libraries,” Volkman said. “The two library build­ings were built entirely with local donations — both the land and construction costs were privately funded.”

In Sedona Red Rock News’ Jan. 10, 1979 article, “New Librarian is ‘People Oriented,’” Volkman noted the already strong support the volunteers offered.

“The volunteers at this library appear to me to be as committed, perhaps even more so, as members of a professional staff would be,” Volkman said at the time, adding that, “The only problem, as I see it, will be getting to know all the volunteers …. There are so many of them.”

While she won’t be director come 2021, Volkman says she will still be at the library as a patron attending programs and checking out audio books [she always has at least one or two that she’s listening to at a time]. Outside of the library, Volkman will spend some downtime with Nick enjoying Sedona.

“I look forward to spending more time hiking and exploring some of the newer trails that I haven’t had the opportunity to try yet, and swimming at the community pool at the Posse Grounds in the warm weather,” she said. “I’m going to just relax for a bit before getting involved with other projects.”

Volkman says she can rest east knowing that she will be leaving her role of director in good hands.

“Incoming director Judy Poe has a wealth of library experience, and as assistant director for almost two years, she knows the Sedona community and the library well,” Volkman said. “With the support of the rest of the well-qualified staff, library board and volunteers, the library is certain to thrive and grow in exciting new ways.”

One of those changes will be the remodel to the main library on White Bear Road within the next few years, with the addition of small meeting rooms and more efficient spacing.

“My hope for the library’s future is that all who walk through the doors will continue to find a friendly face and a helping hand for whatever questions they might have,” Volkman said. “Technology will change, but what won’t change is the need for a place to explore and exchange ideas, a place to meet up with your neighbors, and a place for lifelong learning.”