In November of 2014 FOPAL implemented the following rules to be followed during the period of the 12-book limit rule. These rules still stand and will continue to be enforced. We ask all shoppers to honor the following rules:

1. EARLY IN THE SALE, each customer may select up to twelve (12) books, sets of books, or other items. They must be purchased and taken outside of the sale room. Customers may then return to the waiting line (if any) and re-enter the sale as often as they like. Note: The FOPAL Sale Manager will announce when this limit is lifted.
2. Adult shoppers may bring in no more than ONE GROCERY-SIZED BAG or ONE GREEN FOPAL BAG.
3. For safety's sake, NO boxes, large backpacks, carriages, or strollers will be allowed. Bags and other large items must not block access to shelves - they are a tripping hazard.
4. Do not take books away from their sections to review them. If you remove a book to look at it, please replace it neatly on the shelf. Covering, hoarding, and/or stashing books are not allowed. Keep your books with you; abandoned books will be re-shelved.
5. Avoid crowding, pushing, verbal disagreements, and aggressive interactions with other shoppers, staff, or volunteers.
6. SCANNER/CELL PHONE USAGE- some customers have voiced their concerns about the use of scanners. Although some book sales do not permit their use, FOPAL permits them with the expectation that all customers will act in a manner that is respectful to other patrons, volunteers, and staff. If you are using a dedicated scanner, please be mindful of the area and other customers around you. If you are not using a scanner, please keep in mind that those who do are also customers.

Our goal is to make our book sales as pleasant and rewarding as possible, for as many customers as possible. We are grateful for the support of most of our shoppers in honoring these rules. We ask for the commitment of our "business clients" in considering the rights of all of our customers and observing our rules.

Many thanks to all of you -FOPAL Book Sale Committee

If you cannot attend the book sale, please drop by the Friends Bookstore located inside the Mitchell Park Library, Downtown Library, and Rinconada Library, and open during library hours. They are restocked regularly with a unique selection of books for all ages and interests.

 
Suggestions?

Tremendous, Voluminous, Mammoth Book Sale!

A short bout of rainy weather kept the donation volume down just a wee bit. Soon after FOPAL donors took advantage of all the warmer weather and came through big-time to bring us great books as usual! There is a lot happening this weekend and we hope you'll find some time to spend at our sale and or stop by and visit our information table. As we celebrate President's Day, Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year...we also have the weeks of the Black History Month! For History lovers, look for Black History Month specials in both the Main Room/History section and the Children's Room H2. Looking for LOVE, there's an extensive children's Valentines book display in the Children's Room just to the right of the entrance. What does FOPAL have this month in Better Books? Excellent to good condition pricier books on all subjects are offered again in our newish section "Better Books", which is brimming with great stuff.... Large Format buffs can find books on everything from Life in Pictures, The Century to Norman Rockwell 332 Magazine Covers. We received a variety of unique donations in our Ephemera area. Both hard and soft Ephemera items are in abundance for the month of February.

 
Better Books - High Value - High Quality

FOPAL has decided to sell more of its Better Books, High Value High Quality books at its monthly sales rather than on its Amazon online store. Although these book prices may be higher than our usual prices, it will give our customers access to books that we would not normally carry and at much better prices than are available online. This will happen in all our sections -- we hope you find more books to enjoy. Also, be sure to check out the Better Books-High Value section in the bay by DVDs and to the right of the check-out line.

 
History

"The History shelves are filled with many books that we haven't had before or receive very infrequently. You will find some very unusual or sought after books. We are featuring two special areas this month. We have a substantial collection of books in honor of Black History Month. You will find not only historical topics but also books with a political or sociological focus. Numerous of these books are by African-American authors.

"Our other special this month is Canada. We have received a large collection of books on a diverse range of topics about Canada. You will find this special in our 'set' section. Once again, the books range from history to politics to cultural and sociological topics. Almost all of the books are in pristine condition." -Suzanne Little and Irina Cross

 
Historical Fiction

"For a relaxing 'easy' way to pick up some history about famous people or events of the past don’t miss the Historical Fiction section which is located in the far front corner of the Main Room. The first section of books along the window wall is organized by countries and sometimes also by authors if we happen to have a large number of books by the same author that month. The rest of the wall is organized by topics such as Wars, Historical Romance, Artists, Writers, Historical Adventure, Sea Stories, and Historical Thrillers. In the middle section on bookstands we have recently published books as well as books that are hard to classify in one of our other sections or that are very unusual." -Marian Urman and Suzanne Little

 
February Humor

"In February, we have a bumper collection of Wodehouse, 9 volumes in various conditions. From the same side of the pond we have Black Adder, Monty Python, Hippopotamus and the unbeatable classic, Three Men in a Boat. Other titles include Playing to the Gallery, Paddle your own Canoe, Lovelace and Babbage and Russia's answer to 1984, Moscow 2042. In cartoons, we have the Complete New Yorker including DVDs and the astonishing World of Chas. Addams.

"Make sure to check out the Bargain Room for Humor and look through the large collection of books and cartoons." -Nigel Jones

 
Philosophy for February 2018

"February's new arrivals cover a broad spectrum of topics, titles include Good Life by Rowlands, Life's Dominion by Dworkin, Western Philosophy by Cottingham, Pantheism by Cooper, The Challenge of Bioethics by Kass, The Infinite Book by Barrow and Practical Wisdom by Schwartz. We also have several volumes by Wittgenstein." -Nigel Jones

 
Religion

Ramon Lull, The Art of Contemplation, 1979.
Husain Sam-Tio Chung, God the Therapist, 2008.
Thomas Archer, Our Sunday Book.

Robert France, Along the Way: Pilgrimage Scenes from the Camino Frances to Santiago de Compostela, 2014.
Moses, The Pentateuch, 1884.
John Fletcher, The Last Check to Anti-Nomianism, 1907.
Fernando Prat, The Theology of Saint Paul, 1956, two volumes.
N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God, 2003.
Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church, 1969.
-Nancy Cohen

 
February Judaica

"Browse the Judaica section for books on the Jewish religion, Kabbalah, Jewish history, the Holocaust, memoirs, Israel, Jewish Women, the Jewish American Experience and other related subjects.

"New this month: Present Hope: Philosophy, Architecture, Judaism; A History of the Dora Camp; Mitzvah Stories; Not In God's Name; The Jewish Image in American Film; The Letters of Abigaill Levy Franks, 1733-1748; The Double Bond: The Life of Primo Levi; Hitler's Professors: The Part of Scholarship in Germany's Crimes Against the Jewish People; Yalla!: A Wandering Jew Survives Palestine, Cuba, Jamaica and America.

"The Modern Literature section has shelves for Judaica Fiction. Books in Hebrew with no English translation will be found in European Languages." -Charlotte Epstein

 
Classics and Modern Literature

"Winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature are featured this month. Books are displayed on the top two shelves of the Modern Lit side. More than 40 authors are represented, winners from 1907 to 2017. Books are arranged by the date of the awarding of the prize, beginning at the end by the pay desks. To make more room, some of the duplicated books are on one of the bottom shelves across the aisle in Classics. There are also a few recent authors featured in the New Fiction section.

"New sections, also across the aisle, feature books in the African Writers Series founded by China Achebe, and a section featuring Black American authors. Judaica and Dystopian fiction have been moved across the aisle." -Laverne Bornschlegel

 
Nature

"What a great month - Valentine's Day AND The Great Backyard Bird Count! The Bird Count is February 16-19th this year. Information is posted in the Nature section and you will find more at BirdCount.org. Pick up a bird guide and join the fun. Looking for Valentine's Day activities? The window display features like-new books about our 'best friends' and places to take them (or a human buddy) for a hike: What The Dog Saw, Perfect Puppy in 7 Days, Best Friends, The Dog Lover's Companion to the SF Bay Area, 101 Great Hikes of the SF Bay Area, etc. Cat lovers will enjoy The Trainable Cat and Stories of Cats We Love. Perfect Valentine gifts: Cactus Tracks and Cowboy Philosophy, Cooler Smarter, Empire of Shadows, and many more." -Karen D.

 
Art

"FOPAL received a wonderful collection of art books. A highlight included The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a 12 volume art series from the Franklin Library. The books are bound in leather with elaborate gold decorations and lettering on cover and spine. There are large color photographs throughout each book. The books are in fantastic condition.

"Other great books received this month include Power of Feminist Art by Norma Broude, Paris Montparnesse, Heyday of Modern Art 1910-1940 by Bougault." -Andrea Lozano

 
Movies/Entertainment

"The Movie/Entertainment section is in the north/west corner of the book room. It is easy to find because the African Queen is hanging overhead.

"Again this month we are really loaded with books on Movies, TV, and Media. All shelves are completely full, but there are a few areas which have an exceptional number of interesting books:

Directors corner including the two volume World Film Directors
Foreign film
Film analysis and criticism including several books on women and African Americans in cinema
Craft and screenwriting
Media
Biographies including George Sands, Paul Robeson, Phil Silvers, and James Cagney.
Guides including several lists of films you must watch before you die.

"In the section you will find (roughly from left to right as you face the African Queen):

Small bookcase: modern culture, film writing, craft and movie business, TV, guides;
Tall Bookcase: radio, 'films of' books, signed books, large format, foreign film, Hollywood and film history, film commentary and theory, director's corner, choice biographies/memoirs;
Smaller bookcase: Paperbacks, film tie-ins and scripts, and media and media studies.

"There will be a $1 cart of film bios outside." -Dick Grote

 
Sets for February

"We have three new sets in February: Stoddard Lectures, 15 volumes in good condition, 1907 for $50, The Nobel Prize Library, 20 volumes in very good condition, 1971 for $30, and the excellent 10 volume box set of August Wilson's plays in perfect condition for $125.

"Don't forget, a set only counts as one book when you are buying within the 12-book limit." -Nigel Jones

 
February Music Books

"Visit the Music section for books on a wide variety of musical topics in the genres of classical, rock, jazz, American music and dance.

"New this month - More than 10 books about guitars including Blue Guitar and Custom Guitars; Freeboards : The Lynyrd Skynyrd Story; The Ukulele : A visual history; Imagine; Polaroids from the Dead; Theory of Harmony; Dancing with Cuba; Dead Elvis; Don Giovanni: Myths of Seduction and Betrayal.

"Also browse our wide selection of sheet music neatly sorted by instruments including violin, piano, trumpet and guitar." -Charlotte Epstein

 
Self-Help

"Look for a special shelf of books that are Popular on Amazon - MARKED DOWN. Some Featured Books are: Braving the Wilderness; Dare to be Kind; The Power of Moments; Smarter, Faster, Better; Becoming Wise; Better than Before; Gorilla Mindset; Self Compassion; Eastern Body, Western Mind; Lost Art of Good Conversation; How to Be a Person in the World. Some suggestions for you Loved One are: The Five Love Languages; Love is Letting go of Fear; Loving What Is; A Fearless Heart; Love 2.0; The Power of Emotions.  Browse all the books for other interesting topics and great bargains! With HEART, Marnie"

 
Teen Recommendations by Tristan Wang

Holes by Louis Sachar

Stanley Yelnats is always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sent to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention camp, for a crime he did not commit, Stanley and the other boys "build character" by spending all day digging holes in the parched dirt. But there is more than character development going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging because the abhorrent warden is looking for something. And soon Stanley, along with his newfound friend, Zero, begin their own search -- for the truth.

Tunnels by Roderick Gordon & Brian Williams

Fourteen-year-old Will Burrows and his father discover a disused rail station buried beneath modern London. Then Mr. Burrows disappears. Will decides to investigate and, with the help of his friend Chester, descends into the unknown, unwittingly stumbling upon an enigmatic underground community. The simple manhunt quickly develops into a desperate dash for survival as Will tries to escape the hands of a brutal cult, and unravels the unspeakable truth behind his own bloodline.

Looking For Alaska by John Green

Desperate to escape his eventless life, Miles Halter departs for unpredictable realm of Culver Creek Boarding School in search of the "Great Perhaps". There, Miles is soon captivated by the gorgeous and emotionally unstable Alaska Young.  She launches Miles into the "Great Perhaps," which carries him through a labyrinth of emotions, propels him to the top of the world, and plunges him into a devastating tragedy.