Library News

The Library (all branches) will close early at 5pm on Wednesday, December 24, and remain closed all day Thursday December 25 for the Christmas holiday. Mitchell Park and Rinconada branches will reopen on Friday December 26 at 10am. Downtown, College Park, and Children's Library will remain closed through Thursday January 1.

Mitchell Park and Rinconada branches will close early again at 5pm on Wednesday, December 31, and remain closed all day Thursday January 1 for the New Year's holiday.

The Library (all branches) will reopen on Friday January 2 at 10am.

You could find out about these sorts of things in a slightly more timely manner by subscribing to the Library's mailing list. Like us, they send one or two messages per month, more usually one.

There is also the Library's events calendar that has a lot besides when the Library is closed.

You can find out about other things they want you to know from the Palo Alto City Library Blogs page. Or you can subscribe to them with an RSS reader.

-Frank McConnell

 
Dear Supporters

In order to ensure the Library's ongoing ability to enhance its lending collection and to offer all the wonderful programs and events that enrich our community, FOPAL's annual grants to the Library are essential, and even more so in this time of fiscal uncertainty.

As part of our annual appeal, please help us maintain the successful partnership between the local community and the library with a usually tax-deductible gift, at <https://fopal.org/donate-now>. The only way you can donate to the Library is through a gift to the Friends of the Palo Alto Library.

If your employer has a matching gift program, please know that as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization we are generally eligible for such matching gifts. If you are interested in donating stock, please email <membership@fopal.org>.

Thank you for your support!

-Henry Yu, President, and the Board of Directors.

 
Computer Section

A massive donation filled our shelves! Look for a red cart holding books on Ruby/Rails, and a collection of books on designing, testing, and coding embedded systems.

Our usual shelf of Linux/Unix admin books has spread to a second shelf, look for it below. And our shelf of Web Design and Cloud books also has an overflow shelf below. The AI/NLP shelf has several new additions, too.

Sysadmins, don't overlook the security/hacking shelf in the far upper left; and at the opposite corner, the shelf of "All Other Languages" moved to shoe-top level to make room, but it's there, still alphabetical by Language from APL to Smalltalk.

-David Cortesi

 
Children's Room

The holidays are upon us, and we still have boxes of beautiful books for Hanukkah and Christmas. You can't beat our prices anywhere, so help us clear out the boxes and complete your holiday shopping list.

Featured in School-age Fiction this month, just in time: several gift-quality, beautifully illustrated classics--The Adventures of Pinocchio; A City of Wonder and A Kingdom Far and Clear, both written by Mark Helprin and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg; The Wizard of Oz; and The Swiss Family Robinson. Also in the classics section you'll find a boxed set of The Black Stallion and a complete boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia. For fantasy lovers there is a wonderfully illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and a complete boxed set of the Harry Potter series in paperback.

Look on the Giftables shelves for lots of award winning hardback picture books, especially Caldecott medal winners and honor books, as well as many other favorite classic picture books.

Our Dr. Seuss shelves have never been so loaded with full-size, gift-quality Seuss books, all titles. Nearby are DVDs galore, including holiday movies for family viewing over the school break. We have an abundance of beginning readers, as well as books for any new parents out there.

Check out our Activities section for gifts and entertainment for the whole family. We have bags of Playmobil toys with a variety of themes. You'll find loads of board games, some in their original shrink-wrapping. Look through our jigsaw puzzle shelves for two puzzles with a Pokemon theme, as well as a Harry Potter lenticular puzzle. Choose from scads of stocking-stuffers including CDs (create your own playlists) and joke books. And don't miss our ever-overflowing graphic novels section, where almost all books are three dollars or less!

In the World Languages section, the Spanish and Italian shelves are very well stocked, including some lovely holiday books. There are many books in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean as well.

Non-fiction boasts a very eclectic collection this month--some interesting "Art" books and a chance to fill in your National Geographic hardbound single subject collection from a large selection being offered at half-price (50 cents each!).

Under the front windows are loads of board books, pop-ups, and flap books for the youngest "readers," and if you're a fan of Eric Carle (and who doesn't love those bright colors and charming animals!), we have many of his books including a boxed dozen of little Eric Carle books, just right for small hands. You'll find them on the wooden bookshelf behind the round table.

Holiday shopping in the Children's Room is rewarding, unhurried, easy on the budget, and parking is abundant and free.

-Carolyn Davidson

 
Children's Vintage

It's the December sale and that means holiday books! Both Hanukah and Christmas, both religious and secular. Little kids' books are on the red cart, and older kids' books are above the vintage games. Many different editions of A Christmas Carol by Dickens! Vintage games and toys fill three shelves this month, including a handmade red wooden train, special holiday puzzle books and paper nativity scenes to put together. Even Snoopy gets in on the act with cut-out Peanuts character decorations. And if you're already tired of the holiday hype or want something special to give to someone special, we have a half shelf of Oz books by L. Frank Baum: one in delicate condition but with beautiful color plates by John R. Neil, eight paperback white versions and other miscellaneous editions. Shelf pictures are available for all of these items at www.fopalbooks.com. And you can find even more children's vintage books at our eBay store.

-Lisa Heitman

 
Politics

With the season of giving quickly approaching, you may be wondering what to give to teenaged people, friends, family, and even teachers you appreciate this year. Thankfully, FOPAL has everything you need. Stop by the Politics section of the main room to pick up an elusive book by Jimmy Carter. Or select a book explaining how politics impact the very person you're planning on giving the book to. Although the possibilities are endless, the best place to start is the shelves. Politics are everywhere, and although sometimes not easy to understand, are crucial to people today. Get your dear ones started this holiday season, here in the Politics section of the Main Room.

-Emma Chen

 
Poetry

December's gift is not the tree,
But hearts unwrapped in harmony.
Yet what is this we have in store:
A shelf of poems all about war.
But if this topic makes you sad,
Try Berkeley poet Vinograd.
And raise a glass to Christmas then
For peace on earth, good will towards men.

https://fopalbooks.com/poetry.html

-Mandy MacCalla

 
Puzzles and Games

Just in time for Christmas gifts and gatherings, along with full shelves we have 10 puzzles still in their original wrappers, 4 lovely wood puzzles, 2 Jiggy/Anthropology art puzzle gift boxes and for the first time ever, 14 puzzles of 1500, 2000, and yes--5,000 pieces.

In Games, old favorites like Clue, Monopoly, Scrabble, Pento, Boggle, Apples to Apples, and Yahtzee are featured. Get here early for the Chinese Mahjong set!

-Vicky Evans

 
Home & Crafts

'Tis the season - we have several holiday gift ideas for you!

On the top shelf the Craft books include jewelry designing, watercoloring, and Japanese paper sculpting among other titles. Across the way are wintery knitting resources for scarves, hats, and bags. You'll find origami birds to create and coloring books for drawing. This month we have a bundle of books on floral design for all your festive table decorating. Look for a slew of sewing, crocheting, needlepoint, and embroidery guides. For that perfect handmade gift we feature the five-volume collection, Quilting Lovers' Favorites from Better Homes and Gardens.

On the Beauty shelf try Terms of Adornment: The Ultimate Guide to Accessories. For that stylish person in your life, look in Fashion for Isaac Mizrahi's autobiography, the biography of Diana Vreeland, as well as Elsa Schiaparelli by Palmer White. For all those holiday parties, How to Get Dressed might come in handy. Need a few holiday decorating ideas? New Home titles include: Christmas with Martha Stewart Living and The Best of Martha Stewart Living: Handmade Christmas. For a more modern take on entertaining try Real Simple: Celebrations. Hard to get organized? We feature several titles for organizing your home, and for storage once the decorations come down. Dreaming of far away places for your home inspiration? Regional styles come from Sweden, England, France, and Greece, and range from farmhouses to the seaside.

eShelf photos can be found at <https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html>.

-Virginia Perry

 
Antiques & Collections

In the month of December it's all about our childhood past. One favorite title is The Collector's Guide to 20th Century Toys. Another is The Collector's Encyclopedia of Toys & Dolls. We also display several books on model trains including Lionel: A Century of Timeless Toy Trains. We received a gift from the Museum of American Heritage of several books on the history of the typewriter. New this month is Fabergé Eggs, a beautiful oversized showcase of these amazing jeweled objects. In case you missed it, the book on Nutcrackers is still available for this holiday season.

eShelf photo can be found at <https://fopalbooks.com/crafts.html>.

-Virginia Perry

 
Sociology/Anthropology

The 683 books in the Sociology/Anthropology section range from foundational texts on social behavior, class systems, and political change to contemporary works on gender, race, labor, and social movements. Many volumes are academic--thick reference works, theory syntheses, and university-press publications--while others offer accessible insights into human culture, identity, belief systems, and the structures that shape society. Together, the books of this section reflect a deep intellectual curiosity about how people live, organize, believe, adapt, and create meaning across time. For example, a well-known anthropological and historical novel by Octavia E. Butler, Kindred, blends time-travel with American history, following a modern Black woman pulled into the era of slavery. Butler uses fiction to probe race, power, trauma, and memory--making it a staple in discussions of identity, social structure, and generational impact. Another work--New Power by Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms--examines how influence has shifted in the digital age. Instead of centralized authority and tightly controlled institutions ("old power"), power now spreads through networks, participation, and collective movement. The authors explore social media activism, online communities, and the reshaping of politics and business, illustrating how modern power operates more like a current than a currency. It's a thoughtful, accessible read for anyone studying contemporary culture, social influence, or modern leadership.

 
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.

Special this month -

• Shiksa: The Gentile Woman in the Jewish World
• Rock 'n' roll Jews
• The Fugu Plan: the untold story of the Japanese and the Jews during World War II
• Thirteen Days in September: Carter, Begin, and Sadat at Camp David
• Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life
• Love Your Neighbor and Yourself: A Jewish Approach to Modern Personal Ethics

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

 
Music CDs

Once again the CD section will be offering SEALED - still in original Manufacturer's shrink wrap - CDs for sale at the December sale. These items will be priced at a fraction (1/4 to 1/3) of similar items on Amazon or eBay. Come check it out for possible Christmas gifts. Make it look as if you bought someone something new, not used, for "used" prices.

-John, the CD Guy

 
Curious Books

Curious Books presents for December a varied selection of small books suitable for stocking stuffers. Poetry, humor, and non-fiction on varied topics, are all available in the small size.

We also have larger books from decades past, coloring books, pet books, and plenty of books for all sorts of readers.

-Donya White

 
Humor

In the run up to the holidays there's a gift for everyone in this month's year end Humor sale. On the top shelf we have our largest ever offering of cartoon books, 45 in all. This includes 16 titles from the New Yorker Cartoon series, three of which are the Complete Cartoons and one of which is still sealed and therefore in perfect condition.

On the second shelf we have a bumper collection of P. G. Wodehouse, 16 in all, four of which are collections in tomes. Sharing the shelf in the same vein we have several Monty Python books, John Cleese's very funny autobiography, and other examples of British humor. Rounding out the shelf from this side of the pond we have seven books by Sedaris, all in very good condition.

Happy Holidays from the Humor Department.

-Nigel Jones

 
Self Help/Personal Growth

There are 4 full shelves of 'Popular on Amazon' books. Featured are: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth & Happiness; 10-25-Motivating Young People (2024); Book of Awakening (20th anniversary ed.); Visual Intelligence, Mind Mapping. There's still copies of The Prism (2025). Within the 4 shelves of 'New Arrivals' is a sub-section with 28 new Addiction books. Browsing is great fun, yet sometimes you want to find a specific book. To make that easier for you, each month after the sale, I go through the 'New Arrivals' and move books that I can into the sub-sections. Be sure to check out those 2 bays! The New Year is coming and you will find Workbooks (some with a matching book) and Journals to foster Your Personal Growth. Peace to All and Joyful Browsing,

-Marnie

 
Music Pop Up Sale

A ton of new releases will be featured in our Music Pop Up Sale this month. Please plan to stop by our tables outside of the Main Room Entrance starting at 10am.

-George Chaltas, Music Sales

 
Mitchell Park Store

We've ramped up for the holidays and tried to have the best and most interesting selection of books for your last minute shopping particularly if you are unable to make the December sale.

For those of you who missed "Snowbabies" we are selling them at $4.00 and they are going fast. We also have a selection of Stocking Stuffers priced at $2.00 each. Most are small books that are perfect for a stocking.

Remember we are open whenever Mitchell Park Library is open and that includes up to 5:00 pm on Christmas Eve!

Happy Holidays and Happy Shopping from all the Library Stores, Mitchell Park, Rinconada & Downtown.

-Suzanne Little

 
SF&F and Comics

In Science Fiction and Fantasy, standouts include hardcover boxed sets of The Lord of the Rings and a fat omnibus collection of Le Guin's Earthsea stories, with illustrations by Charles Vess. Over in the Horror/About SF bookcase, look for a mini-collection of works by Colin Wilson, including copies of his Lovecraftian "Space Vampires" under multiple titles and multiple volumes of his paranormal investigations.

In Graphic Novels, Comics, and Manga, lots of Marvel and DC superhero volumes, and several issues of the long-running British "2000AD" weekly magazine-size comics (probably best known in the US for the Judge Dredd character.)

Shelf pictures at fopalbooks.com.

-Rich McAllister

 
History

Books make great presents? It's not too late to buy some history books in good to very good condition for the amateur or professional historians on your list! History had a number of donations this month. If you or your friends enjoyed Burns' American Revolution, check the US History shelf for books about that era and some of the people involved. For the professional historian or anyone interested in early English history, there's a complete set of The Lisle Letters, in very good condition. There's also a collection of small volumes - great stocking stuffers! - on the red cart.

Note: there were so many donations this past month in US and European history that some of the shelves have been rearranged.

-Lin McAllister

 
Nature

As we close out 2025, we should start reflecting on what we want 2026 to look like. Maybe it's starting a vegetable garden, or getting into birdwatching or visiting more parks or adopting a pet. You can find all these subjects in the nature section, which is filled to the brim this month. For anyone looking for holiday gifts, Audubon field guides and laminated pamphlets make great stocking stuffers.

And no matter what section you visit, physical media matters more than ever. No electricity, no data centers, no subscription needed. They can't take your books, CDs and DVDs away from you.

-Serena Bramble

 
Donations

We accept donations on Monday through Saturday from 3-5 pm in the Main Room, with extended hours on Saturday so that we are open for donations from 1-5 pm that day. But we close to donations in the week before the sale so that we can prepare the Main Room for the sale, which means that we are closed for donations from Sunday December 7 through Sunday December 14. Please hold your donations until Monday December 15.

We will also be closed on Thursday December 25 and Thursday January 1 for the Christmas and New Years holidays.

Please read our donation guidelines before you bring materials to us. Also look at that page if you need to bring us a donation larger than six boxes or outside our usual donation times, it has information on scheduling appointments and requesting a pickup.

 
Suggestions?

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