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

 
True in 2004 and still true in 2014

"It's truly surprising how many valuable books are donated to FOPAL" -Marty Paddock, 2004.

This is still true in 2014! It's because of this truth that FOPAL continues encouraging checking the value of uncommon books on the internet so that they can be given a price which is fair to our customers and high enough to ensure the Friends are maximizing their sales revenue.

This is why our Main Room book sale customers are likely to see some books priced higher than the Bargain Room prices of $1 for a hardback and 50 cents for a paperback. A suggested pricing guideline for pricing book using internet research is one-third to one-half of the on-line asking prices given the criteria of publisher, date, edition, signed copy, condition, and availability. So, if you see a book priced for $10 at a monthly sale, chances are this book would sell on-line for at least $30. That being said some books warrant higher prices, but are still a great deal to our "collecting and reader" customers.

One of FOPAL's challenges is to recognize those books that might be even more out-of-ordinary and of unusually high value say...where the Internet price is over $40.00. Now once these books have been identified, FOPAL then looks for other markets for them where they can be sold at prices well above what we might price and sell them for our monthly sale. FOPAL not only sells at sells books at the monthly sale but also at the Friends Kiosk (Downtown library) at auction and on-line.

If you can't attend the monthly sale, please drop by the Friends Kiosk located in the Downtown library during library hours. Books are priced $2 for hardbacks and $1 for paperbacks. The Friends Kiosk is restocked regularly with books for all interests. Or, shop our on-line book store http://www.amazon.com/shops/grandmabetsybooks. All proceeds from book sales benefit the Palo Alto Libraries.

 
Suggestions?

Members Early Sale Set for July 12th

The FOPAL Board of Directors has set a date for a Members Early sale on Saturday July 12th. If you're a member of the Friends of the Palo Alto Library, you'll be able to get in to the Main Room early at the July 12th sale! Life Members are allowed to enter the sale at 9am and can purchase up to 50 books. Members at all other levels can enter the sale at 10am and purchase the normal 12 books at a time. Enjoy a less crowded main book room and get first crack at our wonderful collection of materials.

Tickets for early arrivers are handled differently at the Members Early sale. Tickets given out are for the 9am and 10am lines at the Main Room, since most people who come early are members of the Friends. Each Member will get just one ticket, although members at and above the $30 levels may bring in their families, consisting of one or two adults and children. No tickets will be given out for the 11am line.

You may renew your membership, or join FOPAL that day. Renew, or join now at www.fopal.org/join!

 
Better Than a Tie, Give Dad a Book for Father's Day - Sunday June 15th

Dads love mysteries, true crime and thrillers and we've got plenty of nearly new hardbacks. For the June sale you'll find books from all dad's favorite authors: Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, Ian Rankin and Jo Nesbo. Or, if you'd like to introduce dad to an author he's sure to enjoy try picking up a book by Laurie King or from a relatively new comer to the mystery book scene author Mark Gimenez. You'll find these and more in our Mysteries & Thrillers section as well as a full book case of vintage mysteries if you're looking for something really original. With most priced under $2, you could afford to create a mini collection for your dad this year.

Or, if antique cars are your dad's interest, then we've got a super special for you. "See Antique Cars on entrance aisle...half price on Sunday!" -Althea Andersen

 
Preview Our Shelves

Check out some of the thousands of books that will be on sale this weekend using our shelf preview photos.

 
Section Managers Representing Their Sections

Framed Art- "The book sale has a wide selection of framed art which is displayed outside, we have art in sizes that will fit almost any wall or space you might have. Our prices are very reasonable so if you just need a frame come see if we have piece with a great frame that you can use with your own work of art. On Sundays all framed art is half price" -Charlotte Epstein

Greeting Cards- "In addition to regular greeting cards this month are Father's Day cards and graduation cards, PLUS bookplates and a replenished selection of stationery." -Marda Buchholz

History & Politics- "This month the History and Politics sections received an extensive collection of books about John F. Kennedy. Many of them are large format books that we have rarely seen before in the book room. There is a special display of these books in the last set of bookshelves near the check-out line. Our other shelves are jam packed with many interesting and unusual books." -Suzanne Little

Historical Fiction- "Historical Fiction is doing something new this month by having three special areas featured. One section has books dealing with African-American experiences. The second special has books dealing with the Jewish experience. The third special is a collection of books of biblical related fiction (both Old and New Testament). You will find these books in the center set of bookshelves of the Historical Fiction area. For those of you interested in sea related stories we have many books this month including a new donation of Dewey Lambdin sea related adventures. These books are located on the tall shelves between the two windows in the Historical Fiction section. Enjoy history with that proverbial 'spoonful of sugar' when you read our Historical Fiction." -Suzanne Little

Music & Dance- "Here are some of the interesting titles in the Music and Dance section this month:
Prime Movers: The Makers of Modern Dance in America, That's Dancing by Tony Thomas, The Role of Music in the Twenty-First Century, Rolling Stones: An unauthorized biography in words, photographs, and music, Musical Milestones: My Tale of Science and Music, Heavy Metal Thunder: The Music Its History Its Heroes, Jazz by Gary Giddins, Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones - 2 copies with factory wrapping, Leonard Cohen Old Ideas Tour Program 2013, A Celebration The Musical Theatre by Alan Lerner, Sondheim & Co by Craig Zadan. -Charlotte Epstein

Sheet Music- Look for a large selection of sheet music being offered in several different sale areas this month, Ephemera, Bargain Room & Main Room. "Some of the better stuff was placed in the sheet music boxes in the Music section. Four boxes are sorted and labeled for Ephemera.... Four boxes are sorted, priced and labeled for the June sale for the featured subjects table and are stored...to be displayed on sale day. The remaining box or so was sent to the Bargain Room...mostly songs and choral music predominantly for church services." -Yelena Nazarova

Special in Science Fiction continues- "We have a special collection of Science Fiction Book Club editions from across the six decades the Club has been in existence. This includes great classic authors like Clifford Simak, John Christopher, James Blish, Cyril Kornbluth, Edgar Pangborn, and Wilson Tucker. Many haven't been reprinted in some time, so this is a chance to pick up well-cared for books you won't see other places. Here as well are many SFBC-only omnibus editions -- complete multiple-book series in one or two fat volumes. You can read the whole series for one low FOPAL price!" -Rich McAllister

Science Fiction Magazines in the Bargain Room- "None in Ephemera this month, but there should be some magazines from the 1990s in the Bargain Room this month." -Frank McConnell

Humor for June- "The top two shelves of both bookcases are where you will find our new arrivals. This month look for Dogfight, Trillin, Bill Maudlin's Army, My Crowd, Charles Addams, This Book Will Change Your Life, Something I Said? Michael Feldman, The Nasty Bit, Anthony Bourdain, Distory, The History of Insults and The Wicked Wit of Oscar Wilde. As usual we also have a diverse collection of humor, from presidents to pets and Dave Barry to Robert Benchley. You will also find many more Humor books, in particular a great selection of cartoons, over in the Bargain Room." -Nigel Jones

Philosophy for June- The two Philosophy bookcases are arranged so that the left one is primarily about specific philosophers, their works, and commentaries on their works, whereas the right is more to do with philosophical topics, historical overviews and schools of thought. All recent arrivals are on the top two shelves of the right bookcase. New titles include: Utopias and Utopian Thought, Being Human, The Philosophy of Language, Moral Ground, Human Cloning and Human Dignity, Shared Values for a Troubled World, and The Lesser Evil. -Nigel Jones

Military History- Strategy & Tactics single issue magazines/war games are for sale as one of FOPAL's June specials. Strategy & Tactics is the longest running military history magazine, having published over 250 issues in its 41 year history. Strategy & Tactics was originally founded in 1966 by Christopher Wagner. In its original format, it did not include a game in each issue but focused on existing wargames, design material for games, and hobby news and information. At issue #19, Jim Dunnigan acquired the magazine, formed Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) and began putting games in the magazine. The decade of the 1970's was dominated by SPI wargames and Strategy & Tactics magazine became the wargame hobby flagship. Look for the selection of Strategy & Tactics magazine displayed on entrance aisle above the LPs.