President's Report

The Friends Fall book sale is this month: October 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. As we make arrangements for the myriad details these events involve, they bring to mind the many unsung heroes who have helped make the book sales a success over the past 30 years. This month, I'd like to sing their praises.

Our book sale co-chairs, Gert Woods and Adair Jorgensen work throughout the year sorting and pricing books, along with a crew of Monday-morning book sorters. Gert and Adair go into high gear and put in long days on book sale weekends. Bob Woods creates the display ads and flyers we use to publicize the sales. Nancy Brandt sends press releases to the local newspapers and coordinates placement of the display ads.

On Friday morning of the sale, members of the Alameda Fire Fighters Association help us move more than 500 boxes of books from the basement of the former Children's Library to the O'Club at Alameda Point. Pete Woods, another member of the Monday sorting team, drives the U-Haul truck on moving day and manages the "book sitting" operation at the sale. Alameda Free Library (AFL) Interim Director Jane Chisaki helps set up on her day off, arriving with munchies. Shirley Sachsen sells tickets on Friday night.

A large crew of helpers arrives Friday morning to set up and another crew comes Sunday afternoon to close down the sale. Members are there throughout the weekend, cashiering, counting, and straightening. This list is far from complete, but I hope it gives you an idea of the hard work that goes into the Friends' book sale. Give me a call at 865-7439 if you'd like to join in.

~Molly Skeen

From the Minutes

Richard presided for a vacationing Molly. Thanks to Chris Christopher for taking the September minutes, we still need a permanent recording secretary!

Treasurer. John presented the financial report for January through September 2005. Our total net worth is $214,752.51. Revenue from renewals and donations is good. (We'd like to recognize that Josie Schwartz donated $50 in memory of Roen Fipps and R. K. Wright enrolled as a $100 benefactor in May; I was unable to fit that news into the June newsletter. Many thanks to those generous Friends. ~ed.)

Membership. Peter reported that memberships paid through at least 2005 total 245; 226 members are paid up through 2005, 60 of them are new. There was a general discussion of the possibility of developing a card-sized membership form to be made available at the library along with an addressed envelope.

Jane Chisaki told us there would be no problem adding such a card to the current display. A motion to develop the card/envelope membership form was approved. Peter will report on this project, along with information about the current stock of brochures, at the next meeting.

Junior Friends. (Please see the "Farewell to Junior Friends" item below. ~ed.)

Library Director's Report. Richard read a letter from Susan Hardie expressing her gratitude for the Certificate of Appreciation from the Friends and the gift certificate to the Cycle City bike shop.

Jane reported that construction on the new library is on schedule and under (!!) budget. The new building should be weather-tight by January 2006 at which time it may be possible to schedule some tours for interested members of the Friends.

The children's (Get Wrapped Up in Reading) and youth's (Between the Covers) summer reading programs were a great success.
(Please see "We Were Wrapped Up in Reading" below for details ~ed.).

Jane also reported that activity at the library is very brisk, and that questions to the reference desk are becoming more complex. Demand for library computers is also increasing. Jane mentioned that, although computer reservations are in high demand, some computer time is always set aside for walk-ins.

Library Building Team. No report.
(Please see above what Jane said about the construction schedule. ~ed.)

Take a last look at the webcam of the new building www.alamedafree.org/webcam.html. Pretty soon the second floor walls will go up and it'll be too dark to see anything. There's no plan to install interior webcams for the same reason. (I'd like to mention that the City Council has approved the donor naming list for the new building. --ed.)

Book Sale. Gert reported that sufficient books have been donated to make the October sale a "full category" sale. The venue will again be the DeWitt O'Club at Alameda Point. Gert also recommended that an honorarium be given to the firefighters who assist at the book sales.

Richard read a report summarizing response to the book sale vouchers distributed to the Alameda School Media Specialist staff on behalf of Claudia Fenelon and Mark Schoenrock. In general, voucher recipients were enthusiastic about this opportunity and the materials they acquired. A request was submitted to repeat this program at the next sale.

Alameda Reads Literacy Program. Jordona Elderts expressed appreciation for the Friends' support of the literacy program. The 20th anniversary celebration was a great success. She reported that there are currently 50 tutor/learner teams. And she encouraged any Friends who could to buy a seat at the table reserved for Alameda Reads at the Bookies by the Bay event Sept. 22. There were still two seats left.

Old Business

Children's program publicity. Jo followed up on her suggestion at the June meeting and put up a poster at the book sale that listed children's programs supported by the Friends. She suggested additional efforts be pursued to publicize Friends' activities. She suggested a bookmark that could be given out with each purchase. Chris volunteered to develop the artwork for consideration at the October meeting. Jo will send Chris the necessary information.

Internet book sales. Chris summarized the previous discussion. The consensus seems to be that the volunteer effort required to sustain internet sales is beyond the Friends' capabilities at present.

New director position. Regarding the suggestion that a single person act as director of the library and of ARPD, Kate Quick and a number of other members confirmed that this suggestion met with almost universal opposition and was withdrawn.

New Business

Book sale marketing. Molly sent a request that members consider a proposal from Joe Mariscal, Encinal High School marketing teacher, to use the services of a group of his marketing students to help with our book sales this year. Joe says there are around 60 to 70 students in the DECA club, an international association for marketing students. Each year the DECA club develops a project. For example, several years ago they set up a service through the Alameda Education Foundation, to provide supplies for Alameda teachers at no charge. Another year they set up a coffee kiosk at the airport. Several members expressed enthusiastic support for using the marketing students for the book sale and the motion was approved. Jordona and Chris volunteered to work with Molly on this project.

Archive. Chris reported that she had agreed to develop a plan for archiving the available records of the Friends. The general objective is to convert all paper records such as minutes, newsletters, financial reports, etc. to electronic files for CD-ROM storage. She asked members to submit newspaper clippings, pictures (with detailed identifications), and other archival materials related to the history of the Friends to her.

Teen book discussion group. Karin Lundstrom, AFL staff, reported on the success of the Teen Book Discussion Group. Interested students meet once a month at the library to discuss a new book they have read. Karin works with the students to choose books of general interest to the participants. The Friends supports the group by providing funds to purchase books for the participants. Karin requested that the Friends continue funding this program. A motion to provide $648 for continuation of the program was approved.

Adopt-a-library. Marc submitted a press release from The American Library Association, which has established an Adopt-a-Library program to pair stricken libraries in the Gulf region with public libraries who can provide financial, collection, supply and/or other assistance to the rebuilding effort. More information is available at www.ala.org . (Please see more information under "Happenings at the Library" below. ~ed.)

Farewell to Junior Friends

It is with great regret that we announce the Jr. Friends program will no longer be in operation this coming year. Due to lack of success in finding a replacement for Jo Winzenread, the group is being disbanded. It has been an educational, rewarding, and fun experience for the members to work with young children in the numerous story-hours that have been held over the past several years. Jo and I extend our appreciation to the teens who have joined the program and donated their time, energy, and enthusiasm in making it so successful.

The Jrs. have held several book sale fundraisers to purchase supplies for their story-hours, to sponsor events, and to make monetary donations for the children's collection of the Library. Various supplies such as construction paper that the Jrs. used for their activities are being divided between the Library and the Friends for use in creating displays for events or announcements. The remaining monies in the Jrs.' treasury will be donated to the Library for purchase of additional materials for the children's and teens' collections.

We have invited the Jr. members to continue in the Student category of the Friends and to participate with us in upcoming activities and events. Perhaps at a future date (after the new Main Library opens in 2006?) the Friends will again have a program that offers Alameda's youth an opportunity to help support the Library's programs and services while fulfilling their community service hours.

~Marilyn Ng and Jo Winzenread

Longtime Book Sale Supporter Honored

The Book Sale Committee recently received a letter from Napoleoon Policbar with copies of the award he recently received from his alma mater, the Western Visayas College of Science & Technology (Republic of the Philippines). He was selected as one of the 100 outstanding graduates in celebration of the college's Centennial Celebration in the category Community & Philanthropic Service.

He was quick to give credit to the Friends of the Alameda Free Library as we have for many years donated our leftover textbooks and technical volumes to the Policbar Family Foundation which he heads. He sends the books both to his college as well as to a village library for children in his native province. It always amazes us how much we can help with so little extra effort. He helps us by taking these volumes and they are so grateful.

~Gert Woods

We Were Wrapped Up in Reading

The Library's 2005 summer reading program is all wrapped up! Thanks to the generous funding from the Friends, our "Get Wrapped Up in Reading" program was a huge success with over 1500 participants. Approximately 1/3 of the participants completed the 24 hr program and 147 of them chose to be honored at our summer reading celebration at the O'Club on August 24th. This year's reading celebration was the best yet! We had lots of honorees and as they crossed the stage, shaking hands with our dignitaries and receiving a free Alameda-Oakland Ferry ticket, the audience was going wild with applause. You would have thought you were at a graduation!

We continued the celebration with a wonderful storytelling performance by Master Storyteller Willy Claflin. Willy is a San Francisco resident who has traveled the world telling stories and has been a resident storyteller at the National Storytelling Festival in North Carolina. We were very lucky to have Willy squeeze in his Alameda performance during his four days home from tour before leaving again. Then, to conclude the evening, cookies and juice sent everyone home on a sugar high. The Children's Department is very appreciative of the continued support the Friends of the Library gives to our programming. Children's programs are the biggest public relations events that our library sponsors and we couldn't do it without your support. Thank you! ~Jane Chisaki

Volunteers Needed Come One, Come All

O'Club Friday October 21 for set up. A fun time for all starting about 11:00am and ending when all books are on tables. (usually 5:00 when folks break for supper --ed.)

O'Club Friday Nite 6:30 to 9:30 Needed: Cashiers Pre-count Book Sitters Table Overseers Handcart Runners Greeters

O'Club Saturday October 22 9:30 to 4:30 Needed: Cashiers Pre-count Book Sitters Table Overseers Handcart Runners Greeters

O'Club Sunday October 22 12:00 to 4:30 Needed: Cashiers Book Sitters Handcart Runners Table Overseers Greeters. It is also time to pack 'em up Move'em Out.

This is your book sale, we need all the help we can get. CALL Adair 510-865-0347.

~Adair Jorgensen

Happenings in the Library

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the library has posted on our web page (www.alamedafree.org) a link to organizations which are accepting donations for the reconstruction of libraries in the affected region. There is also a news link maintained by the Louisiana State Library, which lists the damage to their libraries in order of severity. This page seems to be updated daily. We hope that by the time this newsletter is published we have not had to add links to aid libraries damaged by Hurricane Rita.

Halloween is coming and you know what that means! "Spooky Night" at the Library is fast approaching. The Interim Main Library...a "spooky den"...that smiling children's staff member...a creepy old witch...scary stories, songs, poetry and even a bit of a skit, come in your costume and make Spooky Night an annual tradition. This year's program will be on Thursday, October 27, 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Interim Main Library. This annual spook-fest is recommended for children about 5-10 years old. Call the Children's Department for more information at 747-7705.

~Jane Chisaki

"Between the Covers," the Alameda Free Library's teen summer reading program has finished it's third year. Over the course of the summer 79 youth signed up for the program. Of those, almost half read at least three books, which earned them an ice cream. Twenty-six participants read at least six books to earn a $7 Books Inc. gift card. In addition to reading, the program encourages teenagers to respond to what they have read in the form of artwork, poetry, a review or a description of a character or event in the book.

The library received over 250 responses, a sampling of which are posted in the teen area of each library. The program was preceded by a logo design contest, which garnered entries from students at Alameda, Encinal, Island and St. Joseph Notre Dame high schools. The winner received a $40 gift certificate from Beverly Fabrics and Crafts. The Friends of the Library was a major sponsor.

~Karin Lundstrom

Every book review its reader

The Alameda Free Library online public-access catalog (OPAC) now has the capacity to display enriched content such as pictures of a book cover, excerpts and book reviews. This last utility has been available for about six months.

The Library has selected three sources for the OPAC book reviews: Publishers Weekly (PW), Library Journal (LJ) and School Library Journal (SLJ). These are print periodicals and expensive; subscribers find that they pile up quickly because the articles and reviews are too interesting to throw in the recycle bin yet too voluminous to finish reading in a timely fashion. So, having some of those reviews accessible for books that are already in the Library collection is a wonderful thing.

It's a marvel to read a review that captures the key points of a book in a compact form. Usually the reviewers have subject or genre expertise so these reviews are of more noticeable quality than what little one now finds in daily newspapers. The reviews in LJ are written by professional librarians, whose names and institutional affiliations are identified. It's fun to spot familiar names and locations.

Consider searching for reviews of books you have read. If you're like me, you've been keeping a log of such for years. You may find a turn of phrase, a snippet of insight crafted by a skilled reviewer that reminds you of how much you liked the book. In addition to your reverie, it is handy to find a sentence or two to send to a friend with whom you share a particular interest.

~Mari Clark
(Mari Clark has been a library volunteer and activist for many years in many places, most recently Alameda. We appreciate her offer of a column on the inner workings of libraries ~ed.)

Friends Officers & Committee Chairs

President: Molly Skeen
Vice President: Richard Kolberg
Treasurer: John Quick
Recording & Corresponding Secretary: vacant
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: Nancy Brandt
Legislative & Parliamentarian: Donna Vaughn
Newsletter Editor: Marc Lambert
Webmaster: Steve Brandt
Jr. Friends Advisor: vacant
Author Night Coord.: Virginia Jones
Bulletin Board Coord.: vacant
BALIS Representative: Marc Lambert