News from the Library, by E-mail and RSS

If you have ever given the Library your e-mail address, like this newsletter editor did when he signed up for a Palo Alto Library card, you have probably noticed that they are sending you one to a few e-mails per month.

The Library is collecting stories about how you are using the Library.

Children's, College Terrace, and Downtown Libraries will be closed from Sunday, December 24, 2023 through Monday, January 1, 2024.

Mitchell Park and Rinconada Libraries will close early at 5PM on Sunday, December 24, remain closed on Monday, December 25, and re-open on Tuesday, December 26. They will close early at 5PM again on Sunday, December 31, 2023, remain closed on Monday, January 1, 2024, and re-open on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

You can read more about this on their blog. You can subscribe to their blog with an RSS reader.

The Library also has an Events Calendar that is full of stuff to do.

-Frank McConnell

 
Suggestions?

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

 
FOPAL Members Get the First Pick at Members' Early Sale

The super big FUN FESTIVE FOPAL Members' Early Sale is scheduled for this Saturday, December 9th! 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. Members enjoy a less crowded Main Room and get the first look at FOPAL's wonderful collection of materials!

Saturday, December 9th - At our Members' Early Sale, Life and Sponsor Members (and one spouse or guest) may enter at 9AM and can purchase up to 100 books per membership from 9 AM to 10 AM. Other Members enter at 10AM and may purchase 25 books at a time. General admission for all including non-Members begins at 11AM. The usual limit on purchasing 12 books at a time lasts until there is no longer a line waiting to enter. Remember, you may renew your membership, or join FOPAL, on the sale day. Renew, or join now at www.fopal.org/join.

-Janette Herceg

 
What's Special for December

Is there a rock lover on your gift list? If yes, then FOPAL has a Science/Geology special for you! A FOPAL volunteer's neighbor (a USGS emeritus chief geologist on the West Coast) connected with an initial offer to donate his collection. Thus began a chain reaction with the final donation from this person and the USGS (given it is moving from Menlo Park to Mountain View) so far to 400 boxes! Look for a large number of these books from this special donation to being offered in the Main Room, Bargain Room, and at FOPAL's E-Bay online shop...

This month check out another sizable number of books from a retired Stanford professor's donation. For December, the collection offered is History/Library of America. Look for the Library of America, History special on your right as you enter the Main Room. "The Library of America is a nonprofit publisher of classic American literature. Founded in 1979 with seed money from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Ford Foundation, the LOA has published over 300 volumes by authors ranging from Nathaniel Hawthorne to Saul Bellow, Frederick Douglass to Ursula K. Le Guin, including selected writing of several U.S. presidents." -Wikipedia, loa.org

Anthropology & Sociology made the special list as it received a larger number of books these past several weeks, prompting a good culling of the old books to the Bargain Room. Shout-out to Maya Z. & Tyler V. for helping get this section ready for this weekend sale!

One more time, we worked diligently to bring out all the Winter Holiday books, DVDs & CDs FOPAL has collected these many months. You'll find lots to read, listen to, or share with loved ones this holiday. Please be sure to look for the festive display as you enter the Main Room on the left. You'll also find a selection of the Winter Holidays books, DVDs & CDs in the Bargain Room/H2 and the Mitchell Park FOPAL Library Store.

"Last but not least," check out the Judaica section this December as we received a nice donation from a Santa Cruz Synagogue. Section manager Charlotte E. mentioned she refreshed the Judaica section to accommodate this special donation.

-Janette Herceg

 
STEM

The United States Geologic Survey is moving their local office from Menlo Park to Moffett Field.

As the scientists are packing up their offices to move to smaller quarters they are donating many books from their personal libraries to FOPAL.

To date we have picked up around 500 boxes of books from them. More pickups are scheduled for the future.

While most of the books are about geology, we also got a lot of math, physics, chemistry and biology books. Even a few civil and electronic engineering books too.

We got way more books than available shelf space, so our shelves will be bulging for at least the next few months.

This could very well be a once in a lifetime chance to get some prime science books at our dramatically reduced prices.

We also got our normal level of donations from other sources.

As such the bargain room is also overflowing with STEM titles.

As always, shelf pictures are available at https://fopalbooks.com/STEM.html

-Edwin El-Kareh

 
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.

New this month- A Hole in the Heart of the World: Being Jewish in Eastern Europe; In Memory's Kitchen: A Legacy from the Women of Terezin; A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; The Great Latke-Hamantash Debate; Jewish Women in Rabbinic Literature: A Psychosocial Perspective; In the Beginning: A Short History of the Hebrew Language.

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

 
Children's Room

A few nights of Hanukkah will follow the weekend sale, and Christmas is just a couple of weeks away. "Puzzled" about your gift choices? Find the solution in our extensive puzzle selection, with offerings for every age. Many are in like-new condition and we always count the pieces! For other hands-on problem-solving activities, consider K'nex or Legos--we have several collections. We're also featuring a Fisher-Price dollhouse, a Beyblade arena with battling tops and launchers, a play-money sorting set from Melissa & Doug, and a felt-board with an undersea theme. And while you browse, don't overlook our bags of bundled small toys, great for stocking stuffers.

Gift ideas from the School-age Fiction section: two collections of complete Shakespeare stories, a signed copy of best-selling author Adam Gidwitz's The Inquisitor's Tale, and two beautifully illustrated copies of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes. And this month we are also featuring "most banned and/or challenged books," for teens and elementary-age readers. Among them you'll find award-winning authors as well as books often assigned in class. For example, books by Eoin Colfer (the Artemis Fowl series), C.S. Lewis (the Narnia series), Lois Lowry (The Giver), and John Green (Looking for Alaska). Even Harry Potter makes the banned/challenged lists!

The Asian languages section is well stocked with Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean books. Pick out a lovely hardback or two as gifts or for family read-alouds over the holidays. Our Russian shelves are very full, with games in addition to lots of books.

Check out the Giftable Picture Books shelves, which are loaded with like-new books including terrific pop-ups and lots of Dr. Seuss.

For Beginning Readers we have Fly Guy books, Amelia Bedelia books, biographies, and science and history books, along with sets for all reading levels.

Note to elementary school teachers: we have multiple copies of many paperbacks, mostly fiction and historical fiction, for your reading corner shelves.

Our Parenting section has titles of interest to both new parents and parents of teens, all very reasonably priced.

The volunteer crew in the Children's Room are always delighted and grateful that parents and readers share their own children's books with the next crop of young readers, by donating books to FoPAL. Happy holidays, everyone!

-Carolyn Davidson

 
Book Reviews, For a Kid, From a Kid

Fluffy and Baron

By Laura Rankin

A heartwarming picture book based on a true story between Baron the dog and a baby duckling named Fluffy. Their adorable friendship will soon become a family favorite as you fall in love with their precious bond as Fluffy grows up. (Recommended for ages 3-6)

Renegades

By Marissa Meyer

A thrilling sci-fi novel where a revenge seeking teenaged girl is entrusted with a villainous mission of subterfuge against the heroes called the Renegades. However, her encounters during this Anarchist plot causes her to doubt who is truly good or evil, and to question her allegiances in a world that isn't all black and white. (Recommended for kids ages 11-14)

-Emma Chen

 
Children's Vintage

If Christmas is your thing, children's vintage is the place! I've been saving the donations all year for this one big blow out! Both big and little kids have lots of choices for holiday reading (and not all of them are about Santa). See some of the wonderful choices at https://fopalbooks.com/kids.html. And if Christmas isn't your thing, there are still plenty of options to choose from, including some really wonderful non-fiction/science books for grades K-2. Come check it out!

-Lisa Heitman

 
Home & Crafts

December Home specials include multiple titles on family gatherings. You'll find fashion design: The Art of Haute Couture by Skrebneski, Do Not Disturb by Gianni Versace, and Chanel and Her World: Friends, Fashion, and Fame. Other shelves feature home building and remodeling, as well as home maintenance planners, such as Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House. There's a variety of resources on interior decorating, as well as specific titles for kitchen and bath. Look for titles showcasing French interiors: French by Design, Pierre Deux's French Country, French Country Crafts, Bringing It Home France, and more. Other design titles include: Elle Decor So Chic, Japan: The Art of Living, Venice: The Art of Living, and Signature Style.

Holiday Crafts books for December include: Martha Stewart's Classic Crafts and Recipes inspired by the Songs of Christmas, Christmas Tree, Malcolm Hillier's Christmas, and don't miss Sunset's Christmas Treasury: Holiday Foods, Gifts, and Decorations. You'll also find floral arts: A Bouquet from the Met: Flower Arrangements by Chris Gifton, Blooms: Contemporary Floral Design, and Keiko's Ikebana by Keiko Kubo, among others. Peruse an array of fabric arts: Vogue Sewing, plus Family Knits and How to Knit by Debbie Bliss, to name a few. Other titles include ceramics, jewelry, and silversmithing, as well as the Reader's Digest Crafts & Hobbies project sourcebook. Happy Holidays!

Shelf photos can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html.

-Virginia Perry

 
Antiques & Collections

December showcases more noteworthy titles including: Sotheby's The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, April 23-26, 1996, and Smithsonian Gem: The Definitive Visual Guide, plus Boucheron: Free-Spirited Jeweler. You'll also find a set of vintage The Family Circle magazines, and The 1930's Scrapbook compiled by Robert Opie. Look for furniture and rugs, plus coins and stamps, in addition to antique guides for your collecting reference.

Shelf photo can be found at https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html.

-Virginia Perry

 
Poetry

Chill December brings the sleet,
Blazing fire, and Christmas treat.
For your Santa gift this year
Try some poetry good cheer.
Rhymes to soothe and warm the heart
And give your holidays a start.

https://fopalbooks.com for pictures

-Mandy MacCalla

 
Sheet Music

Donations have been light this month, but there are still many great items (especially jazz titles) left over from last month's sale.

Shelf pictures available at https://fopalbooks.com/sheetmusic.html

-Edwin El-Kareh

 
Medicine

Make a sharp left turn when you enter the Main Room for many interesting reads!

• Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity can Change Your Life. Good for you if you want to keep your cognitive abilities from declining. Read this book if you ever plan to be over 60.
• Bottle of Lies: the Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom. Are the generic drugs mostly manufactured overseas identical to their brand name counterparts?
• Epigenetics: the Death of the Genetic Theory of Disease Transmission, a controversial book on how nutrition, not just heredity alters genes regarding some diseases.
• Orthopedic and Athletic Injury Examination Handbook, handy to have around if your family has lots of injuries, as well as our variety of anatomy books and textbooks in every medical specialty.

Shelf photo may be found at https://fopalbooks.com/health.html

-Pam Parke

 
Philosophy

The special this month is a philosopher not usually associated with the holiday mood, Soren Kierkegaard. We have the largest number of Kierkegaard ever and some high end books not seen before. In all we have 25 books, some well used and some pristine of which three are high quality volumes. Instead of putting them on our online store they are available for this weekend in our Main Room specially priced for our member's sale. Another book in the sale that we rarely see is Wittgenstein's elaborate word games in The Blue and The Brown.

Shelf photo(s) available at https://fopalbooks.com/philosophy.html.

-Nigel Jones

 
Curious Books

End your year with some cozy reading time! The Curious Books section has a wide and varied assortment for you. There is something for everyone-be it serious, sad, funny, or challenging. Enjoy your indoor time more with Curious Books!

-Donya W.

 
Self-Help

Some Featured Books this month are: The Laws of Human Nature; The Greatest Mindset; Educate Your Brain; 12 Rules of Life; Bearing the Unbearable; Touching Moments; Wired for Love; Getting Past Your Past; Discipline Equals Freedom; and Making Your Mind Magnificent. Many books, especially hardbacks, are in Gift Giving condition. Check out the 'Small Books' section or the Card Sets (Fairies; Calm the Chaos; and The Science of Mind) on display. Or find some books for yourself to cozy down with and enjoy the winter season. Wishing YOU and All Beings Joy and Peace,

-Marnie

 
Computers

Looking for info on current APIs and LLMs? Sorry! The shelves this month are dominated by oddities and antiques. Look for a book on Obfuscated C; how to program in RPG; a tenth-year anniversary volume for Sun; and a first edition, first printing, intact dust jacket, signed copy of The Psychology of Computer Programming at a ridiculous price.

-David Cortesi

 
Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Comics

In Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Comics the standout is a small selection of paperback SF from around 1957, in really amazing condition. I was amused to see Brian Aldiss described as an "exciting new writer" on a cover. In the random way incoming donations go, there's an accidental theme of Jewish SF/Comics, with "Planet of the Jews", a couple volumes of Jack Dann's "Wandering Stars" anthologies, Will Eisner's "Fagin the Jew", and a volume of Joanne Sfar's "Rabbi's Cat". There are also a couple of truly strange items: "Atlas Hugged" by David Wilson, apparently a sequel to "Atlas Shrugged" featuring John Galt's left-wing grandson, and "The Last Days of Christ the Vampire."

Also in Comics there's a lot of new sets of manga series and enough comic magazines to be worth browsing through.

Shelf pictures on fopalbooks.com.

-Rich McAllister