Holiday Greetings from the Friends December 12, 2012

As we move through the holiday season from the lighting of the first Chanukah candles though Christmas and the New Year, I wanted to take an opportunity to wish all of our members, volunteers, and other supporters a happy holiday season and a healthy and joyful 2013.

The Friends has much to be joyful for, and we look forward to an exciting year ahead. We are looking forward to a full schedule of three “mini” book sales and one “big” book sale, similar to those we held this past year. We are pleased to have many new and returning volunteers for our sorting operations and our sales, and we look forward to adding more throughout next year.

We will continue our exciting children’s book give-away program. The books are provided by our partner Discover Books, and are in wonderful condition. This year, to date, we’ve given over 12,000 books to children in K-5 Title I schools. We anticipate a far greater volume in the coming year.

The Friends received its Teacher Voucher grant for 2013 from the Fisher Foundation. We will be providing 120 vouchers to teachers from Title I schools. Each teacher will be able to “purchase” 100 books for his or her classroom library.

Our FriendShop continues to offer both fun and useful items to Library patrons, tourists, and other visitors to the Central Branch. This year, we were pleased to offer used books, provided by Discover Books, which have been a big hit with our public and library visitors.

The Friends looks forward to our second annual New Year’s Eve Party for Literacy. We are also planning a new and exciting fund-raising event to be held in the fall.

Our website is being updated more frequently, and we look forward to providing current information and year-end financial summaries in the near future. And postings of Friends activities can also be found on Facebook and Twitter!

We are extremely grateful to our members for their continued support, generosity, and time. We look forward to providing you with new member benefits, increasing our membership in the New Year.

Happy holidays and thanks to all.

Maggie Taylor
President, Board of Trustees

News and Updates December 7, 2012

Dear Friends:

As you may know, the Magnuson hangar and space in which the Friends formerly sorted and stored books is being renovated. That renovation forced all tenants to relocate by the end of September of this year. The Parks Department did not have another facility to offer the Friends during the renovation and so a special committee of the Friends  spent the past year and more trying to find an alternative space for the Friends’ office and operations. They were successful and the Friends recently moved to a 10,000+ square foot facility on the second floor of the Washington Talking Books & Braille Library located downtown at 9th and Lenora. This is the new, permanent home of the Friends’ office and sorting facilities.

There were many pieces to the move. For example, the Friends received a grant from the Fisher Foundation last year to help get quality books into Title One Schools. The Friends utilized that grant to provide teachers in Title One Schools vouchers that can be used to purchase books at any of the Friends’ sales. Just a few weeks prior to the move, the Friends held a “Teachers Book Sale” at which teachers of Title One Schools could use their remaining vouchers to buy young adult and children’s books for their classrooms. Over 1,000 books were sold at the sale and I am happy to report that the Fisher Foundation has just awarded the Friends with a grant of $12,500 for the remainder of 2012 through 2013.

The Friends moved into its new space the first week of October and since then has been busy hooking up computers, configuring the space for sorting needs, determining the most space efficient ways to store books, training new volunteers and basically settling in. During the move, library cast-offs were picked up directly from the library by B-Logistics and sold online. These sales yielded a continuous revenue stream for the Friends during the move and money for the Library in the form of consignment fees. Now that we are moved into our new space the library cast-offs are beginning to be routed to our new facility, volunteer sorting schedules are being set and soon regular donation drop-off times will be set as well. In the interim, if you have a donation to drop-off, the date and time can be arranged directly with the book sale office (206-682-7567), which is open Tuesday through Saturday.

While engaged in the move, our interim book sale director, Alice Springer and her assistant, Katy, were also avidly scouting locations for a Holiday Sale. They successfully negotiated a space at the Seattle Center and with the dust not yet settled at the Friends’ new space, commenced sorting operations, publicity and all the other work that goes into a “Better Books” and audio/visual media Holiday Sale. The Holiday Sale will be held on Saturday, December 8th in the Lopez Room at the Seattle Center. In addition to the Better Books and DVDs, CDs, and Audio Books offered for sale, gift items from the FriendShop will also be available.

To round out 2012, our Vice President, Neil Bergquist, is spearheading a New Year’s Eve Party for Literacy. Neil launched the event last year, independent of the Friends, and the event raised more than $3,000 for the Library’s Homework Help program. We are hoping for even more success this year. Information regarding the event is at http://partyforliteracy.eventbrite.com/

Alice’s plans for the book sale in 2013 are already well in motion and three sales are planned in February, April and early June of 2013. As Magnuson will still be unavailable during those months, locations are currently being scouted for those sales. Once locations are found, those sales will be announced to members and the public, via email and the website and closer to the sale date, through flyers, social media and traditional media outlets.

In September 2013, we will return to the newly renovated Magnuson hangar for a “mega-sale” the 20th-22nd.

There are a lot of exciting changes happening in the organization right now. Please check your email and our website regularly for updated information.

Very truly yours,

The Board of the Friends of the Seattle Public Library

Holiday Book Sale- December 8th! November 13, 2012

Just a few of the treasures you’ll find!

Get into the sprit with our Holiday Book Sale, which is taking place on Saturday, December 8th in the Lopez Room at the Seattle Center. Browse through our fun selection of nearly new and gift-quality items including cookbooks, CD’s, DVD’s, art & photography books, better hardbacks and more! The Seattle Center is sparkling this time of year and abuzz with holiday cheer. Make a day of it! Grab a latte on the way, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season and take your time meandering through the sale. All proceeds benefit the Seattle Public Library!

For more information, please visit: http://www.friendsofspl.org/book-sale-dates.php

Great gifts for family and friends!

Friendshop: Popping Up In Your Neighborhood! November 8, 2012

Some of the merchandise at the FriendShop’s four hour Pop Up!

Were you in the Ballard library on Saturday Oct 20? If so you saw something unusual and interesting in the meeting room… The first FriendShop Pop Up! Powered by volunteers, this 4 hour, one day surprise drew 300 visitors who browsed a special selection of book lover treats, word related jewelry, books and bags.  The custom Ballard bag, a tote designed for the event with artwork from the Library Passport Program, was a hot seller. If you missed the Pop Up you may still be able to get the bag and some of the other merchandise at the Friendshop’s permanent location in the Seattle Central Library downtown on level 3.

Why a Pop Up shop? Friendshop manager, Lisa Lee, explained, “Pop Ups have become popular in the food, fashion and unusual markets such as Free Range Mercantile.  The idea behind a pop up shop is for a retail business to pop up in a location different from where their regular business is conducted.  The FriendShop responded to the request by library patrons who don’t always make it into the city but want to shop the FriendShop and support the Friends.  It was exciting to bring the items from the FriendShop to a neighborhood, sell previously-loved books and to promote the work of the Friends of The Seattle Public Library.  We love visiting with our neighbors who don’t always get the chance to see us downtown. ”

Will the FriendShop be surprising other neighborhood libraries with a pop up shop? Lee says, “Yes!  We will be doing a Pop Up at another Seattle branch library and are in the process of determining a date and location.  Please vote for your favorite branch for a pop up at friendshop@spl.org.

The FriendShop, tucked inside the magnificent Central Library on 4th avenue downtown, is a rich source for special gifts. Did you know that more than 70 local artists and companies are featured there? When you visit the FriendShop you shop local and find items that will delight your book lover friends. Did you know that all Friendshop proceeds benefit The Seattle Public Library?  At the FriendShop you shop local and support the library in one easy trip!

Books for Children – Van Asselt School October 7, 2012

On Thursday, October 4, the Friends teamed with Discover Books and PCC Markets to give away 3,000 books to the children of Van Asselt School.  The children showed their thanks with a song:

  I cannot tell you the joy books can bring

  they have the power to make your heart sing

  I can remember such wonderful times

  Learning and thinkng about books

 

  (chorus)

  Over and over and o’er again

  I’m floating high and low

  I can remember such wonderful times

  Learning and thinking with books.

Beacon Hill Library Helps Neighborhood Attract National Attention October 5, 2012

Patrons entering the popular Beacon Hill branch Library

Beacon Hill is one of America’s top neighborhoods according to the American Planners Association (APA) .  Top 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2012 exemplify “exceptional character and highlight the role planning and planners  play in adding value to communities, including fostering economic growth and creating jobs,”  the APA writes in their October 1 announcement of the award. Beacon Hill was chosen specifically because of its “ethnic and architectural diversity, scenic vistas, history and amenities.” Lyle Bicknell of the Seattle Department of Planning and Developement cited Beacon Hill Library and the Beacon Hill Light Rail station as important components driving the decision in his comments to KOMO radio news.

The Beacon Hill branch Library, situated half a block from the Light Rail station, offers Homework help 4-8 p.m. Tuesday thru Friday,  Beginning ESL classes, Toddler, Family and Preschool Storytimes, and Bi-Lingual Play and Learn groups that strengthen and reflect the diverse community. In addition the Library hosts large groups in its spacious meeting room, presents one time programs such as Health Care Counseling  for Mandarin, Cantonese and English speakers, and hosts the Beacon Hill Resource Center maintained by Beacon Hill Merchants.

Washington artist Miles Pepper’s kinetic boat sculpture rises above the entry to Beacon Hill branch Library.

The Beacon Hill Branch Library garnered two of its own national awards in 2005 and 2003. It was one of 100 most “noteworthy personalities, places  and extraordinary objects in the world of innovative design,”  according to Metropolitan Home in 2005 just one year after it opened. In 2003, Seattle Design Commission recognized it for Design Excellence citing “bold, modern design.”

In a Friends of The Seattle Public Library profile of Beacon Hill patron Tess Martin she notes, “ Beacon Hill is very diverse, and there are few places where all the different populations can mingle. The library is a great place for that.” Users on Yelp give consistently high ratings to Beacon Hill branch citing great staff, wide and diverse collections, ample parking, and user friendly modern design. Libraries contribute to the quality of our lives and they anchor our neighborhoods. Congratulations to the Beacon Hill branch library for its role in bringing national recognition to Beacon Hill Neighborhood.

Help Students Succeed in School! September 23, 2012

The Seattle Public Library is seeking volunteers to assist students in grades 1–12 with homework assignments in English, history, mathematics, science, social studies and other subjects on a drop-in basis. Volunteers are especially needed at the Beacon Hill, Delridge, Columbia, High Point, NewHolly and Rainier Beach branches. Volunteers must have completed at least one year of college and have experience assisting children and teens as a tutor, teacher or family member. Make a difference today by calling the Library’s volunteer services coordinator at 206-386-4664 or visiting www.spl.org/volunteers for more information!