News

Donation

In the last quarter of 2018, we received a letter from Harper, a nine year old Napa resident and fan of the Napa Library. As noted in this letter, she sold bookmarks and pictures to raise money for the Friends of the Napa Library. She sent us $6.61 to be used to support the programs we raise funds for throughout the year. One of our goals is to encourage young readers to become life long readers. Harper’s hard work and donation make us especially proud and we are honored that she chose us to benefit from her hard work!

 

Favorite Library Program

After the Friends of the Library Week program (click here for information) we received a note from a frequent library user.  She was excited to learn that the Art in the Library Program had been selected as the favorite program by voters.  Being the favorite program meant that Art in the Library received the proceeds from the lobby sales for the celebration week.  While the artists provide their creations at no cost to the Library, the program does incur costs associated with creating the displays, producing written materials and the artist’s receptions.  We were glad that this important program was chosen to receive special recognition.  And so was our correspondent!

Thank you to all of the patrons, book donors and volunteers for making our December sale a success! We had the added incentive of donating 50% of the proceeds to the Friends of the Butte County Library to help defray costs of damage and loss due to the Camp Fire. Between the sale itself, the lobby sales and other sales activites, once again the proceeds exceeded $20,000 for December!
We are honored that the Napa library community continues to support our efforts and the library programs we provide for.
Happy 2019 to all!

DONATIONS TO THE PARADISE LIBRARY
50% of the proceeds of our December book sale will be donated to the Friends of the Butte County Library to assist the library in Paradise to get back on their feet after the devastating Camp Fire.
What a wonderful way to help bring books back to the Paradise community and satisfy your love of reading at the same time!

Our last book sale of the year opens on Saturday, December 8 and runs through Sunday, December 16.  What a great opportunity to pick up coffee table books in many categories including Art and Music, Photography, Sports, History and Travel.  You can also surprise the book lovers on your gift list with a Friends of the Napa Library Book Sale Gift Certificate.  Just ask at check out.

Hours
Saturday, December 8 10am-5pm   MEMBERS ONLY DAY!
Sunday, December 9 1pm-6pm
Monday, December 10 10am-8pm
Tuesday, December 11 10am-8pm
Wednesday, December 12 10am-8pm
Thursday, December 13 10am-8pm
Friday, December 14 10am-5pm   1/2 PRICE DAY
Saturday, December 15 10am-5pm   BAG DAY (1 BAG OF BOOKS/$5)
Sunday, December 16 12pm-5pm   TWO BAG DAY (1 BAGS OF BOOKS/$5)

We look forward to seeing you there!!!

Friends of the Napa Library celebrated the 13^th annual National Friends of Libraries Week, October 21-27.  Anyone joining the Friends of the Library during that week was entered into a drawing for a new e-reader – compatible with many ebook formats.  Our new member, Kasandra Weinerth was the lucky winner. She is pictured above (on the left) with two of our volunteers when she stopped by to pick up her new e-reader.

In addition anyone joining or purchasing a book from our lobby sales voted for thier favorite library program.  The winner, Art at the Library received all of the proceeds from that week’s lobby sales.    All in all it was a great week for the furthering the goals and programs of the Friends of the Napa Library and the Napa Library programs we support.

Ever wonder what the Friends of the Napa Library (“Friends”) do with the money we earn at our various book sales?  Why, we fund programs and services at the Napa Library, of course!  Children’s programs and services are of particular importance to us.  The following is a snapshot look at only some of the many ways we are enriching the lives of children in our community.

Storytime Materials: During the last few years, there were more than 3,000 kids in attendance at Napa Library storytimes every year.  This includes storytimes for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, Spanish-speakers, families, and special needs kids.  Besides library books, music and rhymes, some of the storytime materials funded by Friends include, magic bags, scarves, felt boards, pre-made flannel stories, puppets, music makers (bells, egg shakers, etc.,) and additional props.

Class Visits & Outreach:  Children’s librarians present several class visits for preschools, elementary schools, and for parents either at the library or off-site at a school.  Other outreach endeavors have included participation at Connelly Ranch Earth Day, Community Resources for Children’s annual picnic, Farmer’s Market Storytime, Back to School nights, School Fairs, Preschool Family Fun nights, etc.  Some of the supplies funded by Friends include stamps, bookmarks, stickers, ribbons, paper, etc.

Study Center:  During the school year, nearly 400 kids were served at the Napa Library’s after school Study Center.  Some of the supplies funded by the Friends include flash cards, calculators, paper, writing supplies, an abacus, and stacking cubes.

Craft Supplies:  Throughout the year, the Napa Library presents many craft programs.  There are “Just for Tweens” craft programs year round, at least one craft program in the fall and spring for all ages, and a variety of craft programs for older and younger children during the summer.  The Friends fund the supplies for these programs.  Examples include, yarn, colored pencils sets, craft sticks, paint, Velcro, child-size scissors, special paper, markers etc.

 Children’s Movie Nights:  The Friends pay for an annual movie license, which includes up to six movies for children per year as well as the refreshments at the movie showings (popcorn, lemonade and cups).  Last year, there were on average more than 60 kids and 40 adults in attendance at each of the movie nights. 

Spring Bilingual Performer:  Once a year the Napa Library hosts a show for kids in honor of the Day of the Child/Day of the Book, which is a national celebration emphasizing the importance of bicultural literacy.  The Friends have paid performers to entertain children in our community.  In April of 2017, the musical duo “Cascada de Flores” used ancient musical instruments, their voices, and dance to tell a beautiful tale of ancient Mexico in a bilingual format.  More than 100 people attended this program.

Food & Drinks at Programs: Every year the Library hosts a variety of programs for children.  The Friends will fund the refreshments for many of these programs.  Some past programs have included the “December Bird Count” (hot cider & hot cocoa), the “Baby Birthday Bash” (apple juice and Cheerios), the “Library Adventure” (pretzels and apple juice), and the “Summer Reading Program Party” (pretzels and apple juice).  All of these events were well attended and brought various parts of the community together.

Summer Reading Program:  In addition to performers, the Friends also fund the printing of marketing materials and in-house supplies for the Summer Reading Program, as well as the incremental and final prizes.  In the summer of 2017, this consisted of flyers sent to every child in grades K-12, posters for schools and the Library, reading logs, coloring sheets, bookmarks, and the schedule of events booklets.  Incremental prizes included robot erasers, bubbles, lip whistles, and jelly bracelets.  The final prizes included a certificate and library bag. (Kids who attended the final party also received a gently used book – see below.)

 Gently Used Books: At the Annual Summer Reading Party, Friends volunteers pass out over 300 gently used books to children participants as a prize for reaching their reading goal. In addition, thanks to the Friends, gently used books are now available at seven pediatrician waiting rooms throughout Napa. Locations include, OLE Health (three sites), Kaiser, Harvest Pediatrics, Napa Valley Pediatrics and HHS Mental Health Services.  In the future, sites such as Napa County’s Health and Human Services, (HHS) and Napa County’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program will be included.  This program is unique in that it takes services to where children and parents are and crosses all demographic levels.

 

In addition:  Some of what Friends pays for include items needed to make the Children’s Room a fun and engaging place for families to visit.  For example, headphones for the Children’s Room computers, storage boxes, mouse pads for Lego workshops, Ellison dies, board book bins, posters, etc.