News from the Library, by E-mail and RSS

If you have ever given the Library your e-mail address, like this newsletter editor did when he signed up for a Palo Alto Library card, you have probably noticed that they are sending you one to a few e-mails per month since the start of the pandemic.

The Library would like you to know that this year's Summer Reading Program is under way, and that you can sign up for it until July 31, and I (yr hmbl newsletter editor) can't point you at the e-mail because they've changed mailing list provider to one that apparently does not do archives.

Maybe it's OK. The Library has a blog too and it covers most of the other topics that were in the most recent newsletter. You can look at that here and it's got an RSS feed here. (The RSS feed may open in your RSS reader instead of in your browser.)

The City may also be sending you "Uplift Local" e-mails once a week or so. There is an archive of those e-mails here.

And if like yr hmbl newsletter editor you have not been paying attention and are wondering what is open and how much the Library has a Current Library Services page.

 
July Sale Highlights

July is FOPAL's busy donation time, signaling that summer is here! FOPAL is offering plenty of summer-time reads, games, puzzles, music, movies, and more! From the History section, look for a big special on China history books along with hundreds of other History books donated this month The Asian Language section has been completely restocked with a wide variety of books from several recent donations. The overflow can be found in the Bargain Room. Look for multiple sections/shelves of Puzzles & Games in both the Main Room and the Bargain Room. The equally nice selection in the Bargain Room is a reflection of the overflow from the Main Room. The Children's Room has more than enough items to fill most sections twice over, graphic novels, kid's non-fiction & fiction, toys, puzzles, and games to name a handful of the superabundant sections! For all FOPAL's bibliophile customers the unique special of High-Value books normally sold by our High-Value team on Amazon, eBay, or at auction continues! Enjoy this opportunity to shop the High-Value inventory at the July Sale as well as check out a super-duper variety of books, DVDs, LPs, CDs, and more specially selected by FOPAL dedicated Section Managers!

 
Donation Reminder

FOPAL processes approximately 40k books a month! Sadly about 2/3 of what we accept is not salable. Please know that books that are insect-infested, water damaged, moldy, chewed on, missing pages or cover, or are heavily written in or highlighted, are not saleable. These books are destined for the blue bin. As we like to gently say... "If you wouldn't give it to a friend, please don't give it to the Friends."

 
History

"Don't miss the special on CHINA in the History section. Our books span the breadth of Chinese history including 21st century developments. We have added new books to last month's extensive collection. We have also received a large number of books on RUSSIA ranging from the tsars to Putin. Gain a better understanding of our current 'countries of concern' and why each of these countries wants and feels they deserve to regain their former status and position in today's world. Check out the rest of the History section for great sets, lots of US history, Asia, Europe, etc. Middle East books are all on a red cart this month." -Suzanne Little and Lin McAllister

 
Puzzles and Games

"This section has been one of our fastest-growing and best-selling since the pandemic began. And for good reason beyond being great stay-at-home entertainment--we get high-quality current items. This month in puzzles we had a large donation on the very popular and highest quality Pomegranate Art puzzles and will start the sale with 15 of these in our section of over 135 to choose from.

"Also donated this month were some of the most popular (and pricy) strategy games of the past several years, none now priced at more than $20. Games include copies of Settlers and Seafarers Catan, two versions of Ticket to Ride, Dominion, Duel, Race for the Galaxy, Axis, and Allies. Also available are many adult and family favorites. Come check us out at the sale and in our growing puzzle display at the FOPAL store at Mitchell Park Library." -Vicky Evans

 
High Value Special

"Due to the success of last month's high value book sale we are running it for one more month refreshed with new books.

"FOPAL considers most of our books priced at over $20 as high value and sells them online either through eBay or Amazon. For the July sale we are going to make available around 500 books from our high value reserve. The books will cover all of our usual category areas, including art, architecture, fiction and nonfiction, recent and old editions, hardbacks and paperbacks. This is an opportunity to see the books in person as a library and buy them without fees and without waiting. As an added bonus, all of the books will be for sale at less than their online price.

"Look for the High Value Special Sale in the main aisle." -Nigel Jones

 
European Language

"We have lots of good books in Spanish, including several by Jorge Ibarguengoitia (author of Two Crimes/Dos crimenes). We also received a lot of books in Sanskrit which will be offered in the Bargain Room." -Susan Strain

(Yr hmbl newsletter editor has seen these in the Bargain Room in its Eastern Religion section and in a small book case near Philosophy.)

 
Poetry

"In the Poetry section, look for special sections on T.S. Eliot, Lives of the Poets, Haiku, and a selection of poetry books signed by author. For a glimpse of the shelves, go to fopalbooks.com" -Mandy MacCalla

 
Philosophy

"As a result of our large high value sale in the main aisle Philosophy has moved to aisle 13. This month we have two very handsome volumes. One is the Complete Works of Aristotle, volume 1, and the other is the Complete Works of Plato. They are rarely seen especially in this condition." -Nigel Jones

 
Computers

"The Computer section has many special interest sections, each small enough to allow a thorough browse by the reader with a matching interest. The savvy customer should know that the latest acquisitions are usually at the right end of each section. This month, thanks to a big donation from the CMU library, the 'Opinion-Analysis-History' section has overflowed to a second shelf." -David Cortesi

 
Science

"All shelves are pictured and available for viewing at fopalbooks.com." -Edwin El-Kareh

 
Sheet Music

"We have received several large donations and all are now up on the shelves. We were given music for instruments that we normally do not get: harp, lute and balalaika. With so many new materials, we have had to put some overflow in the Science section. All shelf pictures are at fopalbooks.com. Because most sheet music is spineless, most every item has been individually pictured. Each musical instrument has its own webpage, so pictures should be faster to get to." -Edwin El-Kareh

 
Photography

"On the Photography shelves:
Postcards From Mars (The First Photographer on the Red Planet)
On the red carts:
National Geographic's The Photo Ark (One Man's Quest to Document the World's Animals)
Several titles focused on music in general (The Beatles Anthology) and guitars in particular" -George Chaltas

 
Donations

We have made it past Drop-off Donations 3.0 and have returned to accepting donations without the need to make an appointment.

HOWEVER....

We are closed for donations from Sunday July 3 through Sunday July 10 to prepare the Main Room for this weekend's sale. Please hold your donations until Monday July 11.

Please read our donation guidelines before you bring materials to us.

All that said, our normal hours for drop-off donations are Monday through Saturday, 3pm-5pm. (But not the week before the sale.)

 
Suggestions?

We're always eager to hear your suggestions for ways to improve our book sale. Please email us at suggestions@friendspaloaltolib.org.