Happy Valentines Day

I 've been in love three hundred times in my life, and all but five of them were with books.
Lee Glickstein

Happy Valentine's Day!

Love 'em and
Read 'em!

Books make the perfect Valentine's gift because they appeal to almost everyone: they're extremely affordable in our Friends' Bookstore, they are shippable and they wrap well! Most importantly, they complement the fine tast of the giver as well as the receiver!

Friends Bookstore February Promos!

February Specials

1.

Food For Thought – Last year we put a Channel One barrel in the store and offered a 20% discount to folks who made a donation (hopefully a protein) to the store.  This year if folks spend $25 in the store, they’ll get a free tote bag. The Friends kicked that off at the February 2/3 Auditorium Sale.  Channel One’s goal is to collect a mile of mac ‘n cheese.  There are alot of great books in the store for you to get your free tote bag, and help Channel One!!

 

2.

Two-fer Tuesdays – Tuesdays have traditionally been quiet days in the bookstore.  In order to bump up sales on Tuesdays (we are trying to reach our $60,000 goal to give to the Library this year!), we will have a “Two-fer Tuesday” sale during February.  

Customers will be able to buy-one-get one (of equal/ lesser value) free.  That will apply to most items in the store, the exceptions being the Rochester Reads books and the new canvas bags.  The Rochester Reads books will be here by February 13, and the bags are already in the store.

JOIN US TOMORROW (and every Tuesday this month!)

Friends Bookstore Annual Report

2011 Annual Report Friends' Bookstore The past year was a full and busy one; here are the highlights of the successes and changes in the store.

1.  2
2. At the beginning of 2011, the Bookstore Committee decided to begin taking debit/credit cards. Because the Bookstore is a non-profit organization, it gets a special rate from the company, both in the monthly fees and in the per-transaction costs. We saw credit/debit card sales double each month for the first four months. Now the number of customers using debit/credit cards has stabilized, but we hear multiple compliments regarding the fact that we now accept plastic.
3. The Bookstore participated in several special sales this year, including the White-Out Wednesday sale held on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and sponsored by the Rochester Downtown Alliance. The details of the sale were kept secret until the day of the sale, and that created a bit of buzz. In the end, we offered everything in the store at half price and made over $850.
4. The sorters have been kept busy this year and estimate that they receive an average of 500 books daily. The sorting system has been working very well, with the library taking all that they need for their collections before the Friends begin to select materials. The Bookstore does not lack for books, and we have special sales when one category is full. For example, right now children‟s books are buy-one-get-one-free.
5. The Bookstore donates many, many books and other materials to other organizations. For example, Channel One gets new children‟s, adult fiction and nonfiction books each week. We regularly send shipments to the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, often fulfilling requests. We have donated to other libraries (in Minnesota, in the United States, and overseas), to local charities, and to area schools. We also provide books to new teachers so they can begin establishing classroom libraries.
6. When we have author visits (Catherine Friend in June, the Minnesota Crime Wave, Kamala Nair, and Paula McClain for examples), the Bookstore purchases copies of the author‟s books and sells them during the author visit so patrons have a chance to get the book signed. We also help with set-up and teardown of the auditorium and provide coffee and cookies.
7. The Bookstore sponsored a Mystery Tea and enjoyed an overwhelmingly positive response. Bookstore volunteers and Library staff members were the actors, and everyone baked goodies. We borrowed round tables from the History Center, and their success lead to the Friends Board and Foundation purchasing round tables for use at large auditorium events. Individual Friends purchases table cloths and carafes.
8. In February, the Bookstore sponsored a Food for Thought fundraiser for Channel One, giving customers a discount if they brought in a food donation for Channel One. The store will be participating again this year as Channel One attempts to collect a Mile of Mac „n Cheese.
9. Many new volunteers joined the Friends in both the Bookstore and in the sorting area. We continue to grow. Due to the hard work and dedication of all, the Bookstore is making a record-breaking donation to the Library. The Friends‟ Bookstore Committee voted on Monday, January 9, 2012 to donate $57,000 to the library, leaving a small reserve so we can pay our bills. This amount is a $5,000 increase over last year‟s donation.

nd Saturday Sales continued to be a big hit. In 2010, the sales were a new idea to attract people into the store. During 2011, many of the library patrons were familiar with the Friends' Bookstore, and we saw the benefit in large increases in sales.

Friends Bookstore = new arrivals

Our Friends Bookstore has a lot of new arrivals - coming in daily. We still have a special on Children's books for the month of January (buy one get one free at equal or lesser value). New displays often highlight interesting books to read if you need suggestions!
Remember our Winterfest Booksale is coming right up too (in the auditorium on February 2, 3rd).

Gift membership and Donations

Your Membership support is VITAL to the Friends of the Rochester Public Library. We are very grateful to all of you who continue your partnership with us by renewing your annual membership. Please consider joining, or making an additional donation during these holiday seasons, especially in this challenging economy. The Friends’ operating budget comes from your tax-deductible contributions and other fund-raising activities.  With your help, the Friends enhance library offerings by:

• Promoting early childhood literacy with Read with Me book bags for babies
• Sponsoring programming for children, teens, and adults, such as the visiting author series and providing prizes for the summer reading program
• Operate the Friends’ Used Bookstore which contributes proceeds in
                excess of $50,000 annually to the library’s collection
• Directly support library services and enrich our community

Volunteers help patrons at the Rochester Public Library and the surrounding communities in the following areas: the Bookstore, homebound services, social networking, and more. In 2010, the Friends’ Bookstore contributed $52,000 directly to the library allowing them to purchase additional books, DVDs, and other items. We continued this in 2011!

In this time of economic austerity your membership dues  or donations are more important than ever to help our Rochester Public Library.  Your dues provide you with these personal benefits:

• A 20% discount on used materials purchased in the Friends’ Bookstore
• Early admission to the RochesterFest booksale and other special sales
• Four newsletters per year, whether mailed or electronic. By providing your e-mail address we save printing and postage costs

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY.  THANK YOU.

Membership Levels

      Book Collector      $100 and over             
      Book Lover           $50 - $99                     

      Book Reader         $20 - $49                   

      Bookworm*          $10 - $19                     My gift will be matched by

         *Full-time Student/Senior over 65         ______________________

Thank you for your tax-deductible support of the Friends of the Rochester Public Library

Gift Certificates to the Friends Bookstore

ONLY 11 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT!
Give the gift that keeps on giving - all through the year that will delight the readers in your family and circle of friends. Gift Certificates to the Friends Bookstore come in any denomination from $5 up. And while you are at it, give them a Friends membership which gives them an additional 20% discount! Win win!

Second Saturday Sale

2^nd Saturday Holiday Book Sale

December 10, 2011

Gift-quality books will be for sale in the Rochester Public Library foyer from 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, December 10.  Take advantage of the Friends’ Bookstore’s phenomenal prices to complete your Christmas shopping. 

All proceeds benefit the Rochester Public Library. 

Free gift wrapping

Donated books

What Happens to Books Donated to the Library?
After being sorted by the Friends of the Library for use in the Library, the book store, or sales by the
Friends, books and non-print materials have been donated by the Friends of the Rochester Public Library
to these schools, nonprofit agencies, businesses, and families.
Some of these places are:

•  Hobson City Public Library in Alabama: Note: Shirley Taylor, a former RPL librarian, is director of this library
•  Pine Island Elementary School: 200 books for school library
•  Longfellow Elementary School, Rochester: about 100 beginning reading books
•  Pinewood Elementary School, Rochester: about 200 books for school library
•  Friedell Middle School, Rochester: about 100 books for school library
•  Ben Franklin Elementary School, Rochester: 50 books to Mr. Greseth’s fifth grade room
•  Rochester Central Lutheran School, Rochester: about 600 books for school library.
•  Aldrich Nursery School, Rochester: picture books and tapes
•  PAIIR Rochester Public Schools: picture books and tape
•  Hawthorne Education Center: books on adult literacy
•  Read with me books program for every baby born in Olmsted County
•  Imagination Library: In each Read with Me bag, the family receives an application to get a free book every month for five years from Dolly Parton’s program
•  Language Sprouts, St. Paul, MN: about 600 foreign language books and VHS tapes
•  Korean Charter School, St. Paul/Mpls: 50 Korean children’s picture books (opening 2012)
•  Channel One Food Shelves, Rochester: approximately 250 books per week are given out
•  Community Food Response, Rochester: approximately 350 books per month are given out
•  Rochester Kiwanis Clubs 75 books for book drive and distribution
•  Gift of Life Transplant House, Rochester: program just started
•  Hope Lodge, Rochester: approximately 25 audiobooks
•  Intajuice, Rochester: approximately 50 books
•  Olmsted County Detention Center and Jail: books for inmates
•  Dunn Brother’s Coffee, Rochester: about 300 books for customers to take
•  Operation Paperback: over 3000 books have been distributed to soldiers across the world and their families
•  The Retreat, Wayzata, MN: books on addition treatment for programs
•  Wabasha Motel and RV: books for lobby bookshelf
•  Red Lake Indian Reservation, Red Lake, MN: about 150 books for early childhood education program
•  Wit, Wisdom and Wine Gala: library books for silent auction at fundraiser.

November Second Saturday Sale

RECORD SALE

On Saturday, November 12, 2011, the Bookstore had $971.88 in sales.  Why the big day?  We had a 2^nd Saturday Sale in the lobby, the focus being on unique, collectible and nostalgic books.  Special thanks go out to Pat Stephenson for organizing and running the sale. Thanks also go to Carol Smyrk, Dana Gilbertson, and Ruth Mangan who helped set-up and worked during the sale.  And the sales couldn’t run smoothly without excellent cashiers at the register, so thanks to Mary Anderson and Phyllis Hodgson.  The Bookstore is richer (pun intended) for the time you have spent volunteering!

Pictured above:

Dana Gilbertson, Carol Smyrk, and Pat Stephenson.

So Don't Miss our NEXT Second Saturday Sale - December 10th

Friends Book Store Sale and Bookstore Hours

DON'T FORGET: WHITE WEDNESDAY BOOK SALE
In the FRIENDS' BOOKSTORE!!! AMAZING DEALS  YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS!
BEAT THE BLACK FRIDAY CROWD!!

REMINDER
The Friends Bookstore will be closed
Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th to celebrate THANKSGIVING!
We will reopen normal hours on Saturday November 26th.

Monday: 10 am-7 pm
Tuesday: 10 am-4 pm
Wednesday: 10 am-7 pm
Thursday: 10 am-7 pm
Friday: 10 am-4 pm
Saturday:
Winter 10 am-4 pm
Sunday:
Winter 1:30 pm-4:30 pm

Friends' Bookstore book sale

Crafters Needed to Repurpose Books

Crafters Needed
Several of the volunteers and library staff members have been working on note cards and blank cards to
sell in the Bookstore. The Friends would like additional volunteers who like to work on craft projects
to step forward and create note cards, journals, matchbooks, or anything else that you fancy! The spiral notebooks pictured here were made with book covers from books that were too damaged for the store. If you are interested in helping with this project, contact Elizabeth Ritman.
The crafters met for the first time on September 6, and have continued to meet monthly to exchange ideas, help with other crafts (some add ribbons, others stickers, etc!) but would welcome new members. The group would also be glad for any donations of ribbon, yarn,beads, and buttons. Most of the work is accomplished at home, meetings are not mandatory, but we are looking for crafts especially to sell during the holiday season!

Friends Publicity Meetings

by Majel Hall, Publicity Chair
First, the good news: More people have discovered our great auditorium sales and our bookstore.
However, there are still those who do not know about our fabulous book bargains.
President Elizabeth Ritman has called the Friends Publicity Committee to co-ordinate both print and electronic media. Those in attendance in at least one meeting were:  Mary Barret, Barbara Eakins, Ginny Erbe, Nan Frie, Majel Hall, Helen McIver, Elizabeth Ritman, Pat Stephenson and Bruce Witts.
There has been a problem of different times posted for our auditorium sales. We decided that our sales
chair, Bruce Witt, in collaboration with Ginny Erbe, library electronic communications, will decide on the official dates and times. Electronic communications such as web sites, blogs, twitter, myspace and Facebook are increasingly valuable for our publicity. Helen McIver, Eugenia Dragonmir-Daescu and Ginny Erbe are updating all library events and a growing number of people are checking these sites. We are still using our Bulletin Board located in the Library Foyer, which is being maintained by Helen McIver and Julie Taylor.
Bookstore manager, Mary Barrett, also has been expanding publicity through media and print announcements. Besides using our ever faithful Paige Turner, Mary and Pat make bookmarks with our sale dates and times to give out to our bookstore customers. The bookstore distributes sale posters. Mary and Pat Stephenson have also handled the Second Saturday sale promotion.
The publicity committee is mainly a brain-storming group, to think of projects to bring money to the library. President Elizabeth Ritman tries to keep everything orderly, while our secretary, Barbara Eakins, is intent on capturing all the ideas flying around the table.

Please let us know if you have any ideas that you would like to see implemented, or if you would like to volunteer on any of our various projects. We can always use new Friends!

Friends Holiday Sale

This is an exceptional sale of gift quality books that would be PERFECT for those special Christmas presents, gifts for people who love to read, Children's books at great prices, PLUS our fabulous baked goods from our great Volunteers, Friends and Library staff. You won't want to miss either day of the sale (shop early, shop often!!). We will also have repurposed book crafts for sale, including journals, calendars, photo holders,  notebooks and other items.

Friends Membership

Recently you may have received our annual membership letter asking you for financial support. Stop by the Library or the Bookstore if you did not receive this mailing and ask to join! We are grateful for your partnership with us, especially in this challenged economy.
Your annual dues and contributions are important because they help the Friends and the Library (and hence the community) in many ways: buying or replacing equipment, sponsoring innovative programming, promoting early childhood literacy, etc.

What will we do for you in return?
You get a 20% discount on used books at the Friends Book Store,

early admission to the RochesterFest book sale and other sales,
plus four newsletters throughout the year to keep you informed about Friends activities.
Please be generous. Your renewed commitment to the Library and the Friends is urgently needed and will be deeply appreciated.

Your donation is tax deductible.
Thank you.

READ MN Crime Wave

Established in the fall of 2000, the Minnesota Crime Wave consists of mystery writers Ellen Hart, Carl Brookins, and William Kent Krueger. Between them they have published more than thirty novels and have received nearly two dozen local, regional, and national awards for their writing. They have toured the country several times, presenting over a hundred events and workshops at libraries, bookstores, conferences, and book festivals.
We have a fabulous author visit with them - well over 100 people attended this event and thoroughly enjoyed their readings, discussion, chats and photographs! Thanks to Katherine and Mary B for baking such wonderful cookies! A double treat!
Don't forget the Bookstore often carries the titles of these authors, as well as MANY more MN authors (and even more mystery writers!) at incredible prices. See you there!

Second Saturday Book Sale

Don't Miss the Second Saturday Book Sale!

We have a WONDERFUL selection of books!
There are also two carts of VHS tapes!
Attic Treasures, Interesting Collectibles, Fascinating Children's books, some coffee table books, unusual and rare books...ETC

PERFECT TIME TO START SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS!

Second Saturday Sale

Shop early for Christmas!! Pat will open the store at 10am this Saturday, with Paige and Carol! If you have any questions, or a favourite book you would like to give as a gift, please ask. They may have a copy! This sail only lasts til 1pm - so don't miss it!!

Friends Bookstore

November is Mystery Month! Not just our local MN crime authors, but so many more wonderful writers in this genre. We have a great display of mysteries, with new arrivals into the Bookstore every day, in so many categories.