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).

Feel like you are volunteering more now than ever?  That is because organizations like the Friends of The Seattle Public Library rely on great volunteers to spend countless hours and energy making non-profit groups a success.  Thank you!

Anne Taintor has designed several new line items including “Stop me before I volunteer again” notes and bags; stop by the FriendShop today for the latest styles and be sure to thank the volunteer who helps you with your purchase.

"Stop me before I volunteer again" Anne Taintor Pouch available at the FriendShop

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!

Peace and quiet, a piece of pie, or piece of your mind…whichever it is, don’t forget Dad this Father’s Day- June 21.  Dynomighty wallets are a great way to pay back Dad for all those loans over the years; available for $14.95  in several designs at the FriendShop located in the Seattle Central Library.

Peace Mighty Wallet

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!

Seattle mom and designer, Lisa Murphy, has designed a great little grab & go line of totes in fresh spring patterns.  Best for carrying your library card, license and keys.  Each item is fully lined, with pockets in the perfect places.  The coinlet as shown measures 5″w x 3 1/2″h x 1/2″d and is available in the FriendShop for $12.95. 

Stop by the shop and support a local artist and store.  The FriendShop is located on Level 3 of the Central Library and is open Monday – Friday 11:00-6:00, Saturday 11:00-5:00pm and Sunday 1:00-5:pm.  For more information visit us online www.friendsofspl.org .

Valentine’s Day is just days away.  Be sure to stop by the FriendShop for sweet gifts including cards and bookmarks by local artist Jessie Oleson.  The shop is filled with cupcake trinket boxes, kissable frogs and sweet-heart pillows.

Cupcake in front of The Seattle Public Library

That is to say, do you know about the great Chinook Book produced by Ecometro.com?  This green discount book is filled with over 300 coupons to stores in your Seattle neighborhood.  The FriendShop is included in this community program with a coupon on page C-260 as well as an ad on the ecometro.com homepage.  Stop by the shop or order online from the FriendShop while supplies last.

Seattle

Thank you Nancy Leson of The Seattle Times for speaking not only of this fabulous new book but also noting how you researched the little-known Northwest Menu Collection a similar topic in The Seattle Public Library. http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/allyoucaneat/2008/10/20/seattles_historic_restaurants.html

The FriendShop is now carrying the latest from Arcadia Publishing including “Seattle’s Historic Restaurants” by Robin Shannon.   Order online or come visit us in the shop.   http://friendsofspl.org/shop/I_Love_Seattle_67600.aspx

Thanks to one of our customers, Jan G., the FriendShop is now reducing the need for plastic shopping bags even more.  Earlier this year Jan visited the Amersterdam street fairs and was handed her purchase in a lovely, hand-stiched, recycled magazine-folded page for her item. 

Jan made the FriendShop an array of bags of which we use for small purchases of postcards, jewelry and fun little trinkets. 

Customers love the bags and now love them even more as the library is providing the shop with posters after events are over, dated newsletters and any other what-would-have-gone-in-the-recycle-bin paper we can find. 

Thank you Jan for bringing this fabulous idea to the FriendShop!