Library News

The most important news may be that the Library plans to be closed around the Christmas and New Years holidays. Plan accordingly.

Mitchell Park and Rinconada Libraries will close early at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 24, remain closed on Wednesday, December 25, and reopen at 10 AM on Thursday, December 26; also they will close early at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 31, remain closed on Wednesday, January 1, and reopen at 10 AM on Thursday, January 2.

Children's, College Terrace, and Downtown Libraries will be closed from Tuesday, December 24 through Wednesday, January 1, and reopen at 10 AM on Thursday, January 2.

But maybe more interesting news is that Rinconada Library has a Seed Library.

You could find out about these sorts of things in a slightly more timely manner by subscribing to the Library's mailing list. Like us, they send one or two messages per month, more usually one.

You can find out about other things they want you to know from the Palo Alto City Library Blogs page. Or you can subscribe to them with an RSS reader.

-Frank McConnell

 
Super Sensational Seasonal Book Sale

December is a time for giving and receiving, and here at FOPAL, we're giving our members another Members' Early Sale! All FOPAL paid members will enjoy early entry before the usual 11 AM start time. Please note that this changes the usual Main Room entry procedure. See the section below for details on the Members' Early Sale.

We're thrilled to announce a spectacular donation this month: over 100 boxes of books from the estate of Robert Andrew Brown. We extend our heartfelt thanks to his family for their generous contribution. His collection spans a wide range of genres, with a special focus on Military History, which includes 23 boxes from this collection in the Bargain Room's Military History Section! To read more about this beloved husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur and veteran, check out https://www.dailygazette.com/leader_herald/obituaries/robert-andrew-brown/article_2aed38b9-15f6-5db9-945b-80c88cedb018.html

Our Sports & Transportation section manager is spotlighting a special collection related to sailing. The majority of this large donation will be in the Bargain Room, with a special selection in the Main Room.

Don't miss out on all the giftable books in the Children's Room! There will be an extra big sale just for the overflowing kids' game area. The Ephemera section has been completely restocked with new donations and will feature a large selection of LIFE magazines. The Native American section has also seen a strong influx of new donations and will highlight several interesting books and media items.

We're also shining a spotlight on our Russian Languages section, which received an extra donation of Russian fiction books. You'll find these treasures in both the Bargain Room and the Main Room.

Thank you for your continued support, and happy shopping!

-Janette Herceg

 
FOPAL Members Get the First Pick at Members' Early Sale

A fun and fabulous FOPAL Members' Early Sale is scheduled for Saturday, December 14th. Twice a year, FOPAL holds a Members' Early Sale, at which members of the Friends of the Palo Alto Library are admitted early to the Main Room sale.

Life and Sponsor Members Enter at 9am

At our Members' Early Sale, Life Members and Sponsors (each with up to one spouse or guest) may enter at 9am and can purchase up to 100 books per membership from 9am to 10am. Each (Life or Sponsor) member must give the one Purchase Slip per membership to the cashier before 10am in order to purchase up to 100 books. If a Life Member exits without purchasing all 100 books, he/she may take the Purchase Slip and reenter to fill out the 100 books as long as they are purchased by 10am.

Other Members Enter at 10am

Members at all other levels can enter the sale at 10am, and purchase up to 25 items per membership except Family Members may purchase up to 25 items for each of two adult members at a time. All members may enter with their families, including one accompanying adult and children.

At 11am, non-members are admitted. The limit on purchasing 12 books at a time lasts until there is no longer a line waiting to enter. New memberships can be purchased and expired memberships can be renewed beginning at 8am.

Ticket Handout Procedure

At the Members' Early Sale, tickets are given only to members of FOPAL and are for two lines: one for entry at 9am, one for entry at 10am. Each member will get just one ticket, although Life & Sponsor Members may bring one guest between 9am and 10am and other Members may bring in their families, consisting of one other adult and minor children, beginning at 10am.

We do encourage members to bring Membership Cards even if expired; they do help the ticketing move more quickly. People who come early are members of FOPAL and so there's a greatly reduced line for the 11am general entry. No tickets are given out for the 11am general entry line.

You may renew your membership, or join FOPAL, that day. Renew, or join now at www.fopal.org/join!

-Janette Herceg

 
Terrain Changes at Cubberley Community Center

Our Main Room is now somewhat divided from the adjacent parking lot by barricades. This has been done to provide a pedestrian and bicycle path for (among others) students at the schools hosted at Cubberley Community Center and facilities located adjacent to it. It doesn't block parking or access but does block vehicle access from the Main Room's adjacent parking lot to the larger parking lot behind the campus. It does make a pedestrian and bike-safe path between our Main Room and Children's Room, though.

However, these barricades are temporary, and are really intended to provide a path while another path is closed so that public restrooms can be built for the play fields out back. More information is available at the City's web site.

Also temporary, but longer term, there is a plan to put a temporary fire station in the Main Room's adjacent parking lot, which I think has previously been mentioned in this newsletter. If that plan is approved work could begin as soon as late January. That temporary fire station is expected to be in place for 24 months. More information on the fire station replacement project is available at the City's web site.

-Frank McConnell

 
Children's Room

This month you'll find a multitude of holiday books on our tables of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Wintertime books and DVDs. The selection is amazing this year, thanks to our donors, and most are priced at just 50 cents or a dollar. Don't miss this!

Shop our Activity section and check off many of the items on your gift list. We have something for everyone, at remarkably low prices! This month, we have been inundated/blessed with LEGOs. We have holiday kits, "everyday" kits, and many, many, many pounds of loose bricks--bagged and priced to sell. Our shelves are overflowing with games (many brand new) for every age group. There are also Kiwi kits and Tinker kits, most unused. Don't miss our trays of stocking-stuffers/tchotchkes--and, as usual, our graphic novel shelves are packed!

The Non-fiction section boasts a gorgeous like-new Star Wars pop-up book, but only one copy, alas. Also check out the many lovely Art books on the Non-fiction display table.

In Beginning Readers you'll find a great selection of Mo Willems's "Elephant and Piggie" books, as well as loads of books for early readers. Need movies to watch during school vacation? We have lots of those too, on the DVDs shelves. Look on the Parenting shelves for books for new parents and parents of teens--and some giftable journals for grandparents to record their own childhood memories to share with their grandchildren.

Look for the NPR list of the best 100 books for school-age children in our School-age Fiction section. You can find many of those titles on the Classics and Award-winning Authors shelves. And in the same area there's a good selection of the popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. In Classics we also have gift-quality, beautifully illustrated copies of The Wizard of Oz; The Jungle Book; a read-aloud Charlotte's Web; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; and several volumes of The World Treasury of Children's Literature. Look in the Fantasy section for an excellent selection of Rick Riordan, Eoin Colfer, and Erin Hunter books. There is also a giftable box set of the first four hardbacks in the Harry Potter series--they were originally $50, but our price is just $25. If your readers prefer graphic novels, look in Award-winning Authors for the beautifully illustrated books with few words by Brian Selznick: The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck, and The Marvels.

The Asian Languages shelves are packed with beautiful donations, especially Chinese books (both traditional and simplified). This is a great chance to grab interesting books of all types--picture books, chapter books, reference, manga--to share with family and friends over the winter break, or for independent reading. We also have gift-quality picture books in Korean.

Here's an idea: bring a friend to the sale and introduce them to the FoPAL Children's Room. You'll both be glad you did! We look like a "real" children's bookstore and our merch is high quality, but we are easy on the wallet. Happy holidays!

-Carolyn Davidson

 
Children's Vintage

December means "holidays" and we have LOTS of Christmas books (both religious and Santa-based) for both big and small readers. We also have a small collection of books on Hanukkah that may be of interest. If you're thinking a vintage children's book (or books!) is just the thing for someone on your holiday list, check out the following: 14 volume set of The History of the United States (New World to FDR) by American Heritage, 8 volume set of a Picturesque Tale of Progress, or a 14 volume Childcraft encyclopedia. All of them are in great shape and of great value. Also giftable are a couple of L. Frank Baum Oz books (Cowardly Lion of Oz, Land of Oz, and Emerald City of Oz) and many hardback and paperback books featuring Charles Schultz's Peanuts and the Gang. All this in addition to the usual varied assortment that makes up children's vintage. Shelf pictures of some of the treasures are available at www.fopalbooks.com.

-Lisa Heitman

 
Book Review: Eragon by Christopher Paolini

When a 15-year-old boy named Eragon stumbles upon a dark blue stone, he starts turning the wheels of fate in this first book of the series, The Inheritance Cycle. Upon taking the stone home, to Eragon's shock, the "stone" begins to hatch. From within the lapis shells, the young dragon Saphira awakens. The two quickly bond, putting them both onto a path of peril as dragon and dragon rider. They are soon hunted by dangerous beings who seek their deaths; Eragon and Saphira must survive the treacherous journey to a safe haven.

Set in an enthralling place of wonder, magic, and untold dangers, Eragon will resonate with middle readers who love anything from fantasy to elves to dragons! Readers often compare this book to a delightful blend of How to Train Your Dragon and Lord of the Rings, and I can't help but agree wholeheartedly. Moreover, Eragon is only the beginning of a much more intricate story. Enriched by four more amazing books that develop into a rich and incredibly well-written world, your child is sure to enjoy partaking in the journey with the characters they will have grown to love.

Eragon contains depictions of violence and mild language. However, the protagonist does develop maturity and wisdom from positive role models in this coming-of-age novel. Therefore this book is recommended for 12- to 15-year-olds.

-Emma Chen

 
Poetry

Chill December brings the sleet,
Blazing fire, and Christmas treat.
Here's some rhyming treats for you,
Verse to last the season through.
Rod McKuen, how ya doin'?
Adrienne Rich has found her niche.
A.E. Housman, one in a thousand.
All these treats and many more.
See what Poetry has in store.

https://fopalbooks.com/poetry.html

-Mandy MacCalla

 
Computers

Some unusual items this month: Synthetic Programming on the HP-41 is a prize for collectors of HP hand-helds. Two different takes on PowerPoint: The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint by Tufte and How PowerPoint Makes You Stupid by Frommer. The UNIX System by S.R. Bourne, and What is ChatGPT Doing by Stephen Wolfram.

-David Cortesi

 
Music CDs

At the December FOPAL sale, the CD section will be selling NEW CDs - CDs sealed in the MFG's original shrink wrap. Selections include Rock, Jazz, Classical, New Age AND 10 Taylor Swift CDs. Prices of these items are a fraction (1/4 to 1/2) of the prices of the same items listed for sale on Amazon. Pick up NEW (not used) CDs at GREAT prices! Maybe a Christmas gift for someone?

https://fopalbooks.com/specials.html

-John Scheibe

 
Health

It's December and the holidays will soon be here. If you need a special gift, or just want to read an interesting tome, there are plenty of offerings in the Health section. Try one of these: Outlive: the Science and Art of Longevity, The Song of the Cell, The Invisible Kingdom, The People's Hospital, Deadliest Enemy and American Detox: The Myth of Wellness and How We Can Do Better.

To get a head-start on the New Year, some of these titles might be useful: The Forks and Knives Plan, The Longevity Diet, The Paleovedic Diet, Simply Keto, The Fiber Fueled Cookbook, Dropping Acid: the Reflux Diet Cookbook, plus many more.

Don't forget to check out the lower shelves in this section: you might miss something.

-Suzanne Cholko

 
Humor

This month for the first time we have a donation from what is known as the Golden Age of British Comedy. We have 15 books by Spike Milligan as well as the Goons. These are considered to be the precursor to Monty Python and whose most famous devoted fan was the then Prince Charles who used to perform their skits. In a similar vein we have Private Eye, Kenneth Williams and Stanley Holloway. Plus our usual collections of Wodehouse and Flann O'Brien.

-Nigel Jones

 
Sociology/Anthropology

For the upcoming sale, the Sociology/Anthropology section offers 520 books. Although all of them deserve attention, I will point to two books whose topics seem most relevant to current events. The Sociology of Criminology sub-section features Our Criminal Society: The Social and Legal Sources of Crime in America by Edwin M. Schur. This is how a reader describes the book first published in 1969: "Schur's authoritative analysis of criminological findings shows that if Americans really want to curb crime, they must act now to promote massive social and economic changes, reassess basic values, and reform the principles of criminal law." In the U.S.: Self-Reflection sub-section, you will find another authoritative study: Samuel Huntington's Who Are We? The Challenges to America's National Identity. In the book, a renowned American political scientist and historian writes about "an identity crisis ... as he examines the impact other civilizations and their values are having on our own country."

-Natalia Koulinka

 
Judaica

Browse the Judaica section for books on the Jewish religion and culture including editions of the Torah and other basic texts, Kabbalah, Jewish history, the Holocaust, memoirs, Israel, Jewish Women, the Jewish American Experience and other related subjects.

Special interest this month -

• No Room for Small Dreams: Courage, Imagination and the Making of Modern Israel
• Israel in Three Dimensions: A Photographic Album of Israel's Landscapes in Three Dimensions
• Angels in the Sky: How a Band of Volunteer Airmen Saved the New State of Israel
• You Never Call! You Never Write!: A History of the Jewish Mother
• Ellis Island to Ebbets Field: Sport and the American Jewish Experience
• JPS Tanakh for Jewish Personnel in the Armed Forces of the United States(Pocket sized)

Most fiction with Jewish themes will be found in Modern Literature/Classics or Current Fiction. Books entirely in Hebrew are shelved in the European Languages section.

Shelf photos at https://fopalbooks.com/judaica.html

-Charlotte Epstein, Judaica Section Manager

 
The West

This month we have a large selection of Images of America books about various Bay Area cities and towns. We have many books on the history of California, San Francisco as well as on the West in general. Among the history books are books on the gold rush, cross country trips, and earthquakes. There are also several books on scenic areas such as Yosemite.

-Ed Walker

 
Music Pop-Up Sale

Our December Music Pop Up Sale will include over 25 red bins of new selections in all genres of music.

-George Chaltas

 
More Music More Music More Music More Music

As was done in November, one curated box of higher value vinyl records will be on the CD table near the cashiers, all weekend. Last month we sold most of them so we've added more jazz and rock records. Members will have earlier access.

-Henry Yu

 
Self-Help/Personal Growth

The shelves are full of books, including four shelves of "Popular on Amazon". Many books are gift giving quality - especially check out the 'published in 2023-2024' section, Little Books and card decks (Power Deck and Mindfulness on the Go). With 2025 upon us, the Journals and Workbook sections are worth browsing. I've made a section of four books by Abraham-Hicks, teachings that have helped me improve my life through my thoughts and emotions. Look on the lower shelves for a small section of books by Cheri Huber, fun and insightful, HAND written books, including the popular There is Nothing Wrong with You.

SPECIAL OFFER: There are over 60 copies of the very popular book Mindset, by Carol Dweck, Stanford psychologist. It features transformative insights into redefining success, building lifelong resilience and supercharging self-improvement. There's enough to teach a class, run a workshop, have a study group or give to friends. Buy 10 or more and pay only $1 per book. Joy and Peace,

-Marnie

 
Fantasy and Science Fiction

In Fantasy and Science Fiction the main thing is a big selection of vintage paperbacks, mainly from the 60s but some earlier and later. This includes lots of titles that aren't seen frequently. There's almost a whole shelf of anthologies from Groff Conklin, Judith Merrill, Fred Pohl, and others. The top shelf has a set of John Brunner's dystopian trilogy: Stand on Zanzibar (population), The Sheep Look Up (pollution), and the hardest-to-find, The Jagged Orbit (paranoia). If that's not depressing enough, there's a half-dozen J.G. Ballard apocalypses -- take your pick: drown, freeze, hallucinate, or just fade into ennui. A batch of newer Stephen King books are here to terrify you back to the present.

Shelf pictures at fopalbooks.com.

-Rich McAllister

 
History

Some very nice volumes this month, many of which would make wonderful gifts! Browse the red cart for illustrated books on a variety of subjects, or pick up an antique volume at a bargain price. Over 900 volumes to choose from, ranging from the academic to the lighter aspects of world history.

-Lin McAllister

 
Donations

We accept donations on Monday through Saturday from 3-5 pm in the Main Room. But we close to donations in the week before the sale so that we can prepare the Main Room for the sale, which means that we are closed for donations from Sunday December 8 through Sunday December 15. Please hold your donations until Monday December 16.

We will also be closed Tuesday December 24 and Wednesday December 25 for the Christmas holiday. And also Tuesday December 31 and Wednesday January 1, 2025 for the New Year's holiday.

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

 
Suggestions?

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