Friends of the Alameda Free Library
NEWSLETTER
March 2005
Our 30th Year -- Vol. 30 #5

Statement of purpose: To increase public awareness of the library as an essential part of the community’s educational and cultural facilities. And to support and cooperate with the library in developing library services and facilities.

The Book Sale Report

We were spoiled at the Book Sale. We could get into the building on Thursday to figure out where categories would be set up. Sticks and signs in place with tables set up by the Park and Rec people. Friday morn, the Firefighters arrived and moved 600 boxes from storage at Alameda Point to the O'Club. Not having to wait for lunch hour for students, the firefighters moved all boxes to the right tables so that when our Worthy Volunteers arrived at 10:30am, they could start unloading books. The sale was set up and ready by 1:30. Hurray!!

We opened the doors at 7:00 Friday night. The customers loved the new venue -- lots of room, good parking and, of course, great books. This is my chance to say THANK YOU TO ALL THE WORTHY VOLUNTEERS:

Eleanor Stallman, Honora Murphy, Molly Skeen, Steve Brandt, Fr. Morrison, David, Anita, Scott, & Adam Rees, John Quick, Carolyn, Todd, Brittany, & Zachary Storm, Gert, Peter, Sean, & Robert Woods, Liz Rogers, Leonard & Betty Long, Lynda Graham, Patricia Packard, Li Volin, Donna Vaughn, Elizabeth & David McGaffey, Marlene Strawn, Archie Waterbury, Ann North, Jim Graham, Cathy Peinado, Jean Kerry, Richard Kolberg, Sharon Williams, Alice & Cathy Huie, Kate Quick, Andrew Gaber, Shelley Reed, John Kennedy, Marilyn Ng, Chris Brusd, Annette Kobak, Frank Reed, Garrett Dempsey, Sue Greenspan, Carol Stone, Florence Butter, Frank Packard-Reed, Bob & Adair Jorgensen

Junior Friends: Jennifer Zou, Addic Helford, Ellen Dietrich, Chelsia Durkee

Special Mention: Deanna Huie, who opened and closed the building all of the days and who worked wherever she was needed. Jane Chisaki, who not only labored but supplied the workers with water and goodies for the book sale.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU. HELP US GET THE O'CLUB AGAIN. ~Adair Jorgensen

Report from the Treasurer
Daily Book Sale Revenues

Revenue Summary

No remarkable donations. ~John Quick

Bylaws Update

At our November meeting, Gert Woods com-mented that the Friends might want to reconsider our "Building Fund." For some years now, we have set aside one half of the proceeds of each book sale for the Building Fund with the idea that this money would eventually go to-ward furnishings in the new library. Since the financing of the new library stipulates a turn-key project, money for furnishings may not be needed.

A committee, including Donna Vaughn, Gert Woods, and Kate Quick, has been formed to review our by-laws with regard to the Building Fund and make recommendations for changes to the membership. The committee found that the bylaws don't specifically mention the Building Fund, so they've recommended a change in policy that would provide flexibility for the use of the funds we raise. We will discuss this proposal at our next meeting and invite all members to come and participate. Here's the wording of the proposed new policy:

"Establish a new fund, titled Library Enhancement Fund, the purpose of which will be to receive monies raised from fundraising and distribute them for library needs on the basis of enrichment, not replacement of public tax support."

A Note from the President

I hope you will join us for the March 1st groundbreaking ceremony for our new Main Library. The Friends have worked hard for this day--raising money, raising awareness, raising expectations. This will be a day for speeches, thank-yous and congratulations. I've heard that the construction crew will be on hand and may even start the real digging that very day!

For us, there is more work ahead. We have book sales to conduct, author night programs to at-tend, and a cafe for the new library to plan. If you'd like to be more active with the Friends, please give me a call at 865-7439.

~Molly Skeen

From the Minutes

Treasurer. We received a one-time donation that would be matched by the donor's employer, John will check with the bank how this can be handled. He also reported the Friends received a $500 donation several months ago.

Moved, seconded and passed that up to $20 thousand be transferred from the checking account to savings, as long as the checking ac-count balance does not drop below $10 thousand.

Membership. Peter reported there are 278 members paid through 2005. Fifteen of them are new.

Book Sale. The Al DeWitt Officer's Club will provide setup tables. A beautiful child's quilt is available for the silent auction. The Junior Friends will have a table by the entrance.

Junior Friends. Two posters picturing recent Junior Friends' participation in activities are available for recruiting.

Alameda Reads Program. Chris Bruso, interim director, delivered a card signed by several students thanking the Friends for support of the book club. Several tutors and students have expressed interest in helping with the book sale and with author nights.

Officers. Molly and Marilyn Ng polled the officers for job descriptions. These have been received and are available for finding future officeholders.

Field Trips. Molly and Carol continue to plan fun events and informal get-togethers for the Friends. They will keep us posted.

~Carol Stone

Free Workshop for Friends

The BALIS/PLS Workshop for Friends of Libraries is set for Saturday, February 26, 2005 at the San Francisco Public Library. Time is 9:30 - 11:30am and we're lining up a dynamite speaker: Deborah Doyle, former President of San Francisco Public Library Friends and Foundation and now a fellow library student! All Friends of the Library members are encouraged to attend and share ideas with other Library Friends from throughout the Bay Area. The workshop is free BUT we do ask that you contact Kevin Terada the coordinator at 650-349-5538 or terada@plsinfo.org at least one week ahead if you plan to attend.

~Marc Lambert

Day in the District

Four of us from Alameda - Director Susan Hardie, Board member Ruth Belikove, Building Team member Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft, and me--attended the California Library Association Day in the District. We visited the offices of State Senator Don Perata and Assemblywoman Wilma Chan at the State Building in downtown Oakland. Our primary purpose was to thank them for their support of libraries and restate our invitation for them to attend the groundbreaking.

We also were starting to rally their support for the Library Bond Act of 2006 on the ballot June of that year. Although we were only able to speak with Senator Perata's aide, Wilma Chan joined us briefly and confirmed that she definitely planned to attend the groundbreaking! If you attend the groundbreaking, be sure to give the assemblywoman your thanks for her support for our library.

Friends Officers & Committee Chairs

President: Molly Skeen
Vice President: Richard Kolberg
Treasurer: John Quick
Recording & Corresponding Secretary: Carol Stone
Membership Chair: Peter Woods
Book Sale Co-chairs: Adair Jorgensen & Gert Woods
Book Sale Chair Emeritus: Lois Hanna
Fire Department Volunteers Coordinator: Archie Waterbury
Publicity Chair: Open
Legislative & Parliamentarian: Donna Vaughn
Newsletter Editor: Marc Lambert
Webmaster: Steve Brandt
Jr. Friends Advisor: Jo Winzenread
Author Night Coord.: Virginia Jones
Bulletin Board Coord.: Open
BALIS Representative: Marc Lambert