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Friends of the Walnut Creek Library Newsletter
March 2011 |
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Update on Our Book Sales
By Bob Brittian
 The Friends are a major source of new materials for the new downtown library in Walnut Creek. The county's budget for library collection development may be reduced by 28% in the next fiscal year, meaning a cumulative 56% reduction in the last three years. Our Friends of the Library help fill the gap. We donated $100,000 in March, 2010 for the Opening Day Collection and added another $25,000 since then.
How did this happen; where did all this funding come from? Well, we do it the hard way. Library patrons generously donate hundreds of books, music CDs, DVD films and audio books on CD every week. Volunteer sorts materials to sell in our bookstore, quarterly books sales or on-line. Materials we cannot use go to St. Vincent de Paul for nationwide distribution via Pacific Rim Recycling & Reuse.
We have not reached our full potential but we are developing a robust Bookstore team that has brought in over $35,000 in sales since our Library opened in July, 2010. We expect that the Friends will be able to donate at least $40,000 for new materials in the upcoming year.
Are you interested in becoming a part of this volunteer effort? There are several ways that you can contribute. You can investigate the opportunities by contacting our Bookstore Manager, Deb Wainscott at 925-658-2790 or by email at d.wainscott@sbcglobal.net.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
- Downtown WC Library had over 8000 visitors on Opening Day
- The WC Library currently averages 1500 visits per day
- The 'Friends of the Library' has about 125 volunteers working
- Since the Grand Opening in July 2010 - the WC Library has had over 249,600 items checked out (as of December count) - the most of any other Contra Costa library
- You can CLICK HERE to visit the Friends of the Walnut Creek Library
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 Friends - Sells Books On-Line
What is Alibris? What's this about the Friends of the Library selling books on-line as well as in the bookstore?
Over the last year the Friends of the Walnut Creek Library have expanded book sales to the internet. A small team, comprised of Robin Kokemor-Rangel, Deb Wainscott, Susana Gardner, Neha Patel, Misha Patel, Nancy Rothermich, Denise Mathews and Toni Steil-Bozym gathers each week to build our online inventory of books that can be sold for more than those priced in the 'Friends' bookstore. This internet presence is facilitated by 'Alibris', an online company based in Emeryville that sells new books, used books, out-of-print books, rare books, and other media through an online network of independent booksellers. Through this avenue the more valuable 'Friends' books can be marketed on-line like Amazon, Barnes and Nobel and other well known on-line vendors.
How do people get to the on-line service? The best way to check out what the 'Friends' have on-line is to go to the Friends of the Walnut Creek Library website (http://www.wclibraryfriends.org/) and click on 'Online Sales'. Internet users can view and purchase these book offerings the same as they would through any other internet vendor.
Over the last 90 days there have been 55 'better books' sold through Alibris. The 'on-line' team is excited about this project and looks forward to making it a bigger resource for 'Friends' revenues.
 It's important to note that donations of rare, out of print and other valuable books are an excellent way to help the library raise the funds needed to support the Walnut Creek Library. Encourange others to consider donating these special books, knowing they will be treated well and directly help the 'Friends' efforts.
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Russian Section at the Library Bookstore
The Russian Section at the Library Bookstore was started in July 2010 with support from the Library management and the Friends of the Library Board. It contains books of different genres donated by Russian and American patrons.
Anna Ryabkina has worked on many of the advances that are happening at the Walnut Creek library. Some of these advances include:
- Five Russian-speaking volunteers joined the Bookstore team and eleven volunteers help with book sales and other projects.
- Russian books, among others in foreign languages, were presented at the Bookstore's quarterly sales.
- Mini book sales are held at the local Russian schools, community groups, and events.
- 75 light-reading books were donated to John Muir Hospital for the Russian-speaking patients.
- A community group, the Friends of the Russian Collection, was founded by the JFCS of the East Bay. This agency initiated the Collection in 1999.
- Local Russian author Valerie Druzhnikova presented her recently published memoirs at the Walnut Creek Library on January 22, 2011.
- The local Russian-language newspaper which regularly informs its readers about the Walnut Creek Library news conducted a virtual round table discussion on the topic Old, real book vs. Kindle alternative: not that simple.
The Russian-speaking patrons appreciate the opportunity of having Russian books at the Walnut Creek Library.
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 Don't miss our next Quarterly Book SaleFriday May 20, 12:00 - 6:00 pm and Saturday May 21, 12:00 - 5:00 pm in the Oak View room upstairs in the downtown Walnut Creek Library
Saturday from 3:00 to 5:00 - $3.00 Bag Sale
(Note - the Quarterly Book Sale will be closed for lunch from 2:00 to 3:00 pm)
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