NEWS FROM OUR BRANCH
I am SO happy to report that we are finally planning to return to the North Highlands-Antelope Library in just a few weeks!
The interior renovations are on schedule to meet the contractors final walk through deadline. We expect that the staff will be able to return sometime early April.
We are planning for a soft opening date in late-April if everything comes together as planned.
The official "welcome back to the library" celebration and associated events are currently calendared for May 13. This is to accommodate the library director's schedule and allow for adequate planning and promotion once we finally do get the doors open.
Stay tuned for more details very soon!
BookFirst A Hit in North Highlands-Antelope Schools
BookFirst, a program developed by Sacramento Public Library and funded by the Friends of Sacramento Public Library, is coming to an end for 2016-17. BookFirst, which provides free books to first graders in eligible schools, included fifteen schools in the Twin Rivers District in NH-Antelope communities, the largest distribution of any library service area in Sacramento County. Children’s Librarian Denise Lee, assisted by one of the NH-Antelope Friends, made school visits, reading a story, telling the children about the library, and enabling all students to get their very own library cards. The goal of the program is to make all students life-long readers by giving them an appreciation of books.
 |
| Oakdale Elementary in March |
 |
| Sierra View Elementary in January |
Of all the Friends’ tasks I have performed over the years, assisting Denise with BookFirst is by far the most rewarding. The children were so excited and happy to have their own “forever” books. It is too late to be involved this year, but BookFirst is a program that is ongoing (see next article). I recommend volunteering for this program as the quickest way to experience the warm fuzzies.
 |
| Community Collaborative Charter School in March |
 |
| Hillsdale Elementary in February |
Big Day of Giving Set for May 4
The Big Day of Giving is an annual philanthropic event involving many different communities across the US. About 500 nonprofits in Sacramento will participate, makng this a great local fundraiser. This is the third year that Friends of Sacramento Public Library have been included, and we hope to top last year’s $26,000 total. There is a new platform, so donations on May 4 should be problem-free (unlike last year!). There are a number of new features that we hope will contribute to a record day of fundraising for the Friends. All revenues raised will be dedicated to the 2017-18 Book First program, and hopefully we can add first graders in even more schools for the upcoming year. The minimum donation has been reduced to $15, a person can select a monthly recurring donation, and for the first time, checks in addition to credit cards will be welcome. Stay tuned for more info within the next couple weeks, but please earmark a generous donation to fund the wonderful Book First program.
NH-Antelope Friends Staying Busy during Library Refresh
January Meeting
The Friends met in January to approve spending for Lucky Day and library programs for April-July. The Friends also elected a new slate of officers for 2017: Debby Karaman, President; Nancy Matlin, Vice President; Karen Sanders, Secretary; Stefanie Buckmaster, Treasurer; and Karen Lindh, Board member at large/Book Sale Chair. Congratulations and best of luck to our new officers!
The Friends met in January to approve spending for Lucky Day and library programs for April-July. The Friends also elected a new slate of officers for 2017: Debby Karaman, President; Nancy Matlin, Vice President; Karen Sanders, Secretary; Stefanie Buckmaster, Treasurer; and Karen Lindh, Board member at large/Book Sale Chair. Congratulations and best of luck to our new officers!
At the January meeting, about $2500 in funding was provided to cover the next three months.The popular Wild Things Inc children’s program will return and teen librarian Amber Clark is scheduling a guest performer in May for teens. The ever popular Lucky Day program was funded through July and supplies/crafts for the Summer Lunch program, which will be returning to our branch June through August 11, was also included in the budget. The Friends also donated $500 for the May 13 re-opening celebration.
Spring Meeting
The Friends’ spring quarterly meeting is set for Wednesday, April 19 in the North Highlands-Antelope library community room at 11:00 am. While the library will still be closed to the public, the Friends are getting a sneak peak at all the changes, so don’t miss this meeting! Sandwiches will be provided, as is the custom, and Friends are asked to bring a drink or side dish to be shared by all. A reminder will be sent out prior to the meeting, but you can RSVP at nhantelope.friends@gmail.com.
The Friends’ spring quarterly meeting is set for Wednesday, April 19 in the North Highlands-Antelope library community room at 11:00 am. While the library will still be closed to the public, the Friends are getting a sneak peak at all the changes, so don’t miss this meeting! Sandwiches will be provided, as is the custom, and Friends are asked to bring a drink or side dish to be shared by all. A reminder will be sent out prior to the meeting, but you can RSVP at nhantelope.friends@gmail.com.
Changes for the Friends' Sales Area
When the library reopens next month, there will be a lot of changes, including how the Friends sell donated books and magazines. SPL is moving the Friends sale space to shelves in the foyer, so all the materials offered for sale by the Friends will now be all in one place. Make sure to check out all our wonderful books for $2 or less.
When the library reopens next month, there will be a lot of changes, including how the Friends sell donated books and magazines. SPL is moving the Friends sale space to shelves in the foyer, so all the materials offered for sale by the Friends will now be all in one place. Make sure to check out all our wonderful books for $2 or less.
The Friends will receive their own room, at the southwest corner of the building, immediately behind the community room. This was previously the tutoring room. All book donations will be sorted and shelved in the new Friends room, which will give us a little more space and the opportunity to hold an occasional pop up sale when the shelves are overflowing. We are very excited to have our very own Friends spot, so come check it out during the grand reopening event on May 13!
Help Wanted
Now that we have our own space, we are hoping to add a couple of new book sorters to the team. If you have an hour or so on Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon beginning in May, we will match you with an experienced member of our book sale team. We will hold an orientation early in April to figure out the best way to display and rotate books on the new foyer shelves, so contact Karen Lindh at karen@klindh.com or nhantelope.friends@gmail for more information on how to be a “special” Friend to the North Highlands-Antelope library.
Now that we have our own space, we are hoping to add a couple of new book sorters to the team. If you have an hour or so on Tuesday morning or Wednesday afternoon beginning in May, we will match you with an experienced member of our book sale team. We will hold an orientation early in April to figure out the best way to display and rotate books on the new foyer shelves, so contact Karen Lindh at karen@klindh.com or nhantelope.friends@gmail for more information on how to be a “special” Friend to the North Highlands-Antelope library.
And we ask all our Friends to start saving books and magazines to donate to the library when we reopen next month. We hope to start with fresh materials on the sale shelves. We will continue to feature fiction and nonfiction books, children’s books and magazines. Other materials, such as DVDs and CDs may also be sold, space permitting.
Spring Book Sale Set for May 5-6
The North Highlands-Antelope Friends will hit the ground running with a big book sale on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6. The sale kicks off on Friday with a special Friends-only shopping hour at noon, opening to the general public at 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm. We will pick up again on Saturday at 10:00am and end at 3:00pm, allowing time to break down the sale and return the community room to its normal state.
This sale is very important to the Friends, because it is the first opportunity to earn any funds for our library since the December closure. So spread the word to your friends and neighbors, and save your books and magazines to donate around the end of April.
Of course, we will need our wonderful volunteers to help set up, staff and break down the sale. We are hoping to begin the set up Thursday evening around the scheduled Community Planning Advisory Council meeting. But we will need a dozen volunteers Friday morning to complete set up, and another dozen to staff the two day sale. Finally, we are hoping for as many volunteers as we can muster to help shorten break-down to no more than an hour. Because we use teen volunteers to move the heavy book boxes from the closet, the labor is primarily taking books out of the boxes and organizing titles on sale tables. Volunteers get first dibs on purchasing all books, and DVDs offered for sale, a free book of their choosing, the chance to work with other Friends who love books and the library and the satisfaction of knowing that this is a way to give back to the entire community.
Sacramento River Cats Support Library and BookFirst You Can Too!
Let’s further support the BookFirst program while enjoying America’s favorite summer pastime baseball! Sacramento Public Library is once again partnering up with the Sacramento River Cats on Saturday May 20th to raise money for the Friends’ BookFirst initiative. It’s easy to donate and even more fun to participate.
Go to the River Cats (this link will take you straight to the Library’s group discount offer…password – read17), select your seats, create an account, complete your purchase, and then come have fun with the rest of us. Stadium seating in Section 122 is $20.00 per ticket ($4.00 goes back to the Friends) or choose a Lawn seat for $12.00 ($2.00 goes back to the Friends).
Here’s what you can look forward to:
A great match between the SF Giants minor league team and the Oakland A’s minor league team.
Sacramento Public Library Outreach Table on the Concourse along with SPL shout-outs throughout the game.
The first pitch thrown by Rivkah.
Otterby will be there to accept the presented check.
Participate in the 50/50 Raffle (50% goes to SPL Friends).
The SPL Choral Group will perform.
Fireworks will be happening after the game!
Have fun while supporting the Library. See you on May 20th!!
