The Seattle Public Library: A World Class Site — in More Ways Than One! November 7, 2009

Thanks to a grant from the Friends, the Seattle Public Library expanded its web site earlier this year to include more information for its patrons who speak Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, and to add information in Somali and Amharic.  To reach these new web pages, go the Library web site and see the Audiences column on the right hand side of the page.  The Library staff compared the number of Web pages that these audiences used from March 2008 – October 2008 versus March 2009 – October 2009, and were delighted to see significant increases in usage as follows:

Spanish:  2,003 to 9,761 web pages used

Chinese:  3,041 to 10,114 web pages used

Vietnamese:  1,038 to 8,168 web pages used

Russian:  1,364 to 8,632 web pages used

The Friends are able to make grants like these from donations, revenues from the FriendShop, and proceeds from the Book Sale, so we’d like to share these thanks with all of you who support the Friends and the Seattle Public Library:

Gracias a los Amigos de la Biblioteca Pública de Seattle por proporcionar los fondos para el sitio Web de la biblioteca en idioma español (Thank you to the Friends of The Seattle Public Library for providing the funds for the Library’s Spanish language Web site).

衷心感谢Friends of The Seattle Public Library为扩建图书馆中文网页提供经费。 (Thank you to the Friends of The Seattle Public Library for providing the funds for the Library’s Chinese language Web site).

 Xin cám ơn Thân Hữu của Thư Viện Công Cộng Seattle đã cung cấp ngân quỹ cho trang Web tiếng Việt của Thư Viện (Thank you to the Friends of The Seattle Public Library for providing the funds for the Library’s Vietnamese language Web site).

Благодарим Общество друзей Публичной Библиотеки Сиэтла за предоставление финансовых средств для веб-сайта Библиотеки на русском языке (Thank you to the Friends of The Seattle Public Library for providing the funds for the Library’s Russian language Web site).

Mahadsanid Saaxiibta Maktabada Dadweynaha ee Seattle bixinta kharashka lagu soo saaray horudhacan Maktabada (Thank you to the Friends of The Seattle Public Library for providing the funds for this introduction to the Library in the Somali language).

ለሲያትል የህዝብ ቤተ መጻፍት ጓደኞች ለዚህ የቤተ መጻህፍት ማስታወቂያ እርዳታ ገንዘብ ስላቀረቡ ምስጋናችንን እናቀርባለን። (Thank you to the Friends of The Seattle Public Library for providing the funds for this introduction to the Library in the Amharic language).

A Furlough is Not a Vacation September 3, 2009

On Monday, August 31, a group of SPL branch librarians and administrators volunteered at the Friends Book Sale sorting room at Magnuson Park. Proudly wearing green shirts that read “A furlough is not a vacation,” the group sorted hundreds of books for the upcoming Fall Book Sale. The librarians worked hard, displaying enthusiasm and expertise–and having fun. They had a large group lunch with the regular Book Sale sorters and staff.

The Book Sale sorting room is open extended hours during furlough week (including Labor Day). If you have book or media donations please visit the donations page for more information.

The staff of the Friends of The Seattle Public Library are not Library employees, and therefore remain working during the furlough.

Liberate Your Books! July 14, 2009

Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses of books yearning to breathe free in the hands of a new reader! That’s right, folks, although the Fall Book Sale isn’t until September 25 – 27, the Friends accept book donations year-round (except for the 2-week period before and after each sale). We’re looking for the following:

 

 

 -Hardback and paperback books
-Audio books
-CDs and DVDs
-Computer software
-Sheet music
-Art prints and posters (framed or unframed)

Click here for more information about donating these materials.  You can get a charitable donation AND feel good about supporting the Library.

And if you are looking for something fun to read, consider the book recommendations below from the Friends’ Board meeting in July. You can click on the links below to get to the SPL site to reserve a copy of these books.

What Was Lost: A Novel, by Catherine O’Flynn. O’Flynn’s first novel opens with 10-year old Kate Meaney, who acts as a detective of possible criminal activities in her neighborhood. “Crime was out there. Undetected, unseen. She hoped she wouldn’t be too late.” Twenty years later, the novel traces the repercussions of Kate’s haunting disappearance on her friends and acquaintances. Received a starred review by Publisher’s Weekly.

Inside Inside, by James Lipton. James Lipton is the host of the TV-show Inside the Actor’s Studio, where he conducts in-depth (and often parodied) interviews with famous actors and directors. This autobiography includes excerpts from interviews with luminaries such as Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Steven Spielberg, but also traces Lipton’s career and insights.

Not Becoming My Mother: and Other Things She Taught Me Along the Way, by Ruth Reichl. “Irreverently immortalized as the klutzy cook who renounced edibility in favor of creativity, Reichl’s mother, and her quirky kitchen habits, provided frivolous fodder for Reichl’s previous culinary memoirs. But in this keenly felt retrospective, Reichl reveals another side of her mother, whose life seemed a shining example of what not to do.  .  .  .   Only upon discovering a hidden trove of diaries and letters after Miriam’s death was Reichl able to understand the full extent of her mother’s sacrifices. Candid and insightful, Reichl’s intensely personal and fiercely loving tribute acknowledges her mother as both the source and inspiration behind her success.” — Carol Haggas

Quoted book review excerpts are reprinted with permission from Booklist.

Book Loving Dads – Tell Us About Yours! June 16, 2009

This Sunday, June 21^st, is Father’s Day.  Having a father who loves books can sometimes make shopping for Father’s Day easier, but sometimes not.  Collector Dads might have a very specific title in mind or just know it when they see it.  Dads turning to books to enrich their everyday experiences might, depending on the topic, have an overwhelming number of titles to choose from or one or two.  How to find the right book for Dad?  Maybe you’ve got a great story for us?  Read on for tips and share a story in the comments.

If you are shopping for the Dad looking to learn more about any and all subject matter, try the old fashioned method of asking a librarian.  If you can’t get to a branch to ask in person, The Seattle Public Library has got options for you.  Email your questions to SPL librarians, phone the SPL Quick Information Center at 206-386-4636 or contact live chat help online in English and Spanish(24/7, 365 days a year).  What you get is personal service from a person whose job it is to know books, maybe even better than Dad.

Collector Dads will be happy to wait one more week for their gift if you promise to take them to the mini book sale the Friends are planning.  There will be a mini-book sale held in conjunction with the Best of the Northwest event at Magnuson Park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28.  The Friends will have a booth at the event.  Admission is free.   And of course you could always renew Dad’s Friends membership, or buy him a new one, for the BIG Booksale coming up on September 25 – 27th.

And of course, for the Dad who has all the books he needs (is there such a Dad?) head on down to the FriendShop at Central where the Friends have all manner of book related merchandise. With all of these choices you can assure yourself and your Dad that it’s not just a gift for Father’s Day, it’s a gift to The Seattle Public Library itself.  Telling others about Library services helps The Library spread the word about its fantastic services.  The Friends use the proceeds from the BookSale and FriendShop to give grants to The Seattle Public Library and The Seattle Public Library Foundation.

Tell us about your book loving Dad, it’s a tribute he’ll appreciate.  Happy, happy Father’s Day!

Earth Day Everyday with the Friends and The Seattle Public Library April 23, 2009

Yesterday, April 22nd, was Earth Day. But what can you do the rest of the year to stay green? Did you know you’re helping the earth when you use The Seattle Public Library? How’s that? Sightline Daily’s “Save The Library, Save The Planet” article mentions the book Seven Wonders for a Cool Planet which gives good cause to feel good about being a library patron. According to the book’s author Eric Sorenson, “one typical library prevents 250 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year just from the paper it doesn’t use.”

The Friends of The Seattle Public Library are happy to add some vibrant green to your life. The Friends has been helping Library patrons carry their books for years, but last year the Friends decided it was time to switch from plastic bags to a low cost, reusable bag. All branches and the FriendShop are selling the lovely bag pictured above for $1.00. Made of recycled plastic bottles and imprinted with the Friends of The Seattle Public Library logo, this large yet lightweight tote can carry a load. Fill it up with books and go!

Other recycled items are a plenty at the FriendShop. Come and find recycled Golden Book purses, book journals, typewriter key charms and more. The bowls and vases pictured above are from Roost and are created by Vietnamese craftspeople who use traditional bamboo weaving techniques to create colorful pieces out of recycled, printed paper. Stop by the shop to rediscover the many new uses of past loves.

Of course, one of the biggest green things the Friends do is recycle about 250,000 books and others items at our twice yearly Book Sale back into the community.

The Friends just finished the big spring sale last weekend, but we will have a table at Magnuson Park Spring Celebration this Saturday, April 25th, from 10 am – 4 pm. Stop by and check out our $1.00 book selection. And don’t forget, donating books to the Friends Book Sale is a great way to recycle too!

Book Sale This Weekend! April 17, 2009

Join us at the Spring Book Sale this weekend. Most books are $1.00 and there are over 200,000 to choose from. The Magnuson Park location gives you options in nature after you find your books.  Magnuson park also has a great offleash dog area.  Access our city wide petition to Preserve the Library Budget  and merchandise from the FriendShop at the Book Sale too! More Book Sale info.

Saturday April 18 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Magnuson Park 7400 Sand Point Way NE Hangar 30, Seattle. Take Metro #30, #74 or #75  and bring your own bags or boxes!

Holiday Book Sale: Saturday, November 22nd November 15, 2008

Friends of The Seattle Public Library is pleased to invite you to a special holiday mini book sale!

Avoid those last-minute holiday shopping woes. Come to the Friends holiday sale and find the ideal gift! More than 10,000 gently read items will be available for sale, including holiday-themed books, CDs, gift books and other items.  There will also be a general selection of fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, and many children’s books.

Most items are only $1.

All proceeds benefit The Seattle Public Library.

When: Saturday, November 22, 2008, from 9 AM – 5 PM

Where: Magnuson Park (7400 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle) in the hangar in Building 30.

Support your library and find excellent holiday gifts at great deals!

If you would like more information about the holiday book sale, please email book.sale@spl.org.

See you there!

Photos From Our Booksale May 12, 2008

Curious to know more about the event? Take a look at photos from the day, courtesy of Amaryah.