Next month there’s a big pop culture convention taking place in Phoenix. This fan fusion of sorts celebrates many cinematic and television fandoms; from hobbits, superheroes, plumbers who battle evil dragons with delusions of grandeur, and even those characters from a galaxy far-far away. Community Library Sedona is just like that big pop culture laden extravaganza, only we don’t wield laser swords, we wield glue sticks during crafter-noon in Youth Services.
We don’t run clandestine operations in a gigantic floating helicarrier, high atop the Manhattan skyline commanded by an eyepatch wearing Samuel L. Jackson, we have our Gardening Program with Don. And much like Professor Charles Xavier and his school of gifted students rely upon Cerebro, a highly advanced AI, in their ongoing fight for good, we, your dedicated troop of cardigan wearing information wizards, rely upon the library’s newest team member, Meghan Kincheloe, who helps keep things running smoothly in the Business Office.
Meghan recently joined the library in April but already, she fits in great with our rapscallion group of literary pirates sailing the open seas of information. Meghan comes to us not just as our newest staff member, but as a library patron, and parent. And now the favorite part of the library’s getting to know you, meet Meghan Kincheloe.
Where were you born?
I was born in San Antonio, TX, but moved to Sedona when I was one year old. My mom was born and raised in Phoenix and regularly visited Sedona as a child and my parents were married in the chapel at Tlaquepaque, so Sedona was in my blood even before I lived here.
What was your first job?
I worked at Sedona Coffee House and Bakery in Uptown, making coffee and sandwiches. After it closed, I worked at Desert Flour Bakery in the Village of Oak.
What book most influenced you and why?
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. My mom suggested that I read it when I was 16 or 17 because it was one of her favorite books. I had never read anything like it, and I fell in love with the way she wrote about the natural world and the depth she found in the most mundane things. I read it over and over and it really helped me slow down and tune into what was happening in the world around me.
If you could have any superpower what would it be and why?
My superpower would be photographic memory. I would love to be able to recall my memories because I have had a wonderful life so far and don’t want to forget any of the details.
Are you on Team Dog or Team Cat and why?
I grew up with both dogs and cats, but I developed a cat allergy when I moved away to go to college. So I am firmly on Team Dog now. I have two dogs. One is an Australian Cattle Dog named Cheerio, and the other is a Spinone Italiano named Barley. They are very different dogs. Barley will stare into your eyes like she is peering into your soul and is more timid.
Cheerio is incredibly silly and does all sort of funny things, but my favorite is that he will steal clothing from us to cuddle with in his bed at night, and when we’re not home. He prefers socks, but will take whatever he can get. Cheerio is my favorite because he is such a goof.
Our dogs are the best hiking and camping companions and are so silly and entertaining. I can’t imagine life without them. I do still have a soft spot in my heart for cats though.
Have you ever seen a ghost or a UFO?
I grew up in a house that had a lot of ghost activity, but I only saw a ghost once. I was standing in our kitchen when I was six or seven years old and it just walked by out of the laundry room. It wasn’t frightening at all, just surprising! I haven’t seen any UFOs, but I have seen a lot of other amazing things in our Sedona night skies.
If you could have a coffee with any famous person, living, dead, fictional, who would it be and why?
I would pick Taylor Swift because my daughter and I love her music and she seems like a genuinely fun person to hang out with.
Any other information you’d like to share about yourself or what you do at the library? What did you do before you joined the library?
Before I came to the library I spent many years working for Sedona Recycles, doing education and community outreach. I have also volunteered at Running River School for the past eight years. In addition to working at the library, I am Director of Verde Valley Community Supported Agriculture, a subscription service that distributes locally grown produce.
It’s wonderful how one door opens and leads into other amazing opportunities at the library. If you see Meghan on the floor, do say hello. Welcome to the library Meghan! Community Library Sedona is also a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your gifts and support, just like the Friends’ contributions, allow us to provide a plethora of services and programs for the community, for free, all year long. Visit communitylibrarysedona.org/donate to make an online gift today.
As published by Red Rock News
Library News Column for May 16, 2025, by Jan Marc Quisumbing, Scheduling Coordinator