Friends of the Napa Library

Supporting the Napa County Library

TRIBUTE TO ROB MARTIN

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing on July 18, 2022 of Rob Martin, the Friends immediate past President.
For over fifteen years, Rob was a lawyer with the Napa County Counsel office, arriving in Napa after honing his skills with Madera County. His first assignment here was with the Napa County Flood Control Project. Rob was County Counsel assigned to the Corrections Department after flood control needs waned; his final posting was with Child Welfare Services in Juvenile Court.

Upon retirement, Rob joined the Friends of the Library Board of Directors. He was a huge asset to our Board, chairing committees updating the Friends Bylaws and our operational policies and procedures. He became President of the Board of Directors in November 2019, shepherding the Friends through the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, and served with distinction until illness forced him to resign late in 2021.

It’s unlikely we’d ever find
Another man so gentle and kind
Though he seemed easygoing
There was pleasure in knowing
Quietly, he always spoke his mind.
His life sadly has come to an end
Way too early, no more time to spend
He hit the final wall
A big loss to us all
I am proud that Rob Martin’s my friend.
Howard Siegel, 2022

Rest in peace, Rob

WHAT HAPPENS TO BOOKS AT THE END OF OUR SALES

Ever wondered what happens to our unsold books at the end of our quarterly booksales? Or when we have an overflow of books awaiting a sale? Turns out many things. Our goal to make sure your donated books end up benefitting the community in any way possible. Of course selling them at the book sales is a direct benefit to the library. But what happens when the sale ends and the last Saturday’s and Sunday’s Bag Days’ bargains have cleared out most of the books? Or when we are blessed with more books than we can store before a sale?
We are fortunate to have worthy organizations who come to the library during breakdown on the Monday after the sale or when we have more books than we can store. They are able to take the books and distribute them throughout the community.
For instance, we received this wonderful message from Rosanna Mairena,  Giving4Kids. She is reporting after picking up books and with her son, Sergio delivering them to COPE and other organizations in Napa.

Sergio on his book delivery mission

“I wanted to say THANK YOU again for letting us take the extra children’s book at the end of your wonderful events.
We sort them and distribute them:

– the like “new” awesome treasures to COPE Family Center to use as raffle prizes and giveaways at family events,
– the bilingual books and books for 0-5 also go into the free book wagon that is at the COPE service window – when families come in search of services or emergency need supplies, they pick free books to take with them as well,
– we distribute them to little libraries around town – the Rainbow library gets the diversity/feelings/inclusive/feel good books for example. Schools like his previous elementary school Pueblo Vista that has a little library gets bilingual books for older audiences,
– friends take some for their children or classrooms,
– all the awesome PJ Library books get donated to Beth Shalom for their congregation to share.
Just a few ways we pass on the love of reading!
Thanks!
Rosanna”
If you have an organization that can use children’s books or books for adults please contact our Book Sale Manager.