Friends Bulletin

Friends of the Modesto Library Newsletter Winter/Spring 2010

YES Ambassadors at Annual Meeting Inside this issue:

The Friends of Modesto Library
is proud to present YES Ambas-
sadors on March 3, 2010, at the
annual membership meeting.
YES Ambassadors will perform
a selection of songs on friend-
ship and delight Friends.
YES (Youth Entertainment
Stage) is a year-round youth
theater program that introduces songs by YES Ambassadors, and
students to the performing arts vote for FOML board members
through intensive summer theat- for 2010-2011.
rical training and year-round
exposure to performance and
YES Ambassadors
Library Stuff 2
the arts. Participants learn life-
Upcoming Library Events 3
time skills of leadership, team-
work, discipline, and a strong Destination: Success! 4
exposure to performance and the
Book Club in a Box 4
arts. .
Halloween Fun 4
We hope to see you at our annual
membership meeting in the Mo- New Literature Rack 5
desto Library Auditorium Return of Used Book Sale 5
(downstairs) to socialize, enjoy
Library Spotlight 6
Membership Form 7
What: Annual Membership
Meeting with YES Ambassa-
Modesto
dors Library
When: Wednesday March 3, 1500 I Street
2010 at 7 pm Modesto CA 95354
Where: Modesto Library (209) 558-7800
Downstairs Auditorium/1500 I
Hours
St.
M-Th 10 am—9 pm
FOML board nominees are:
Fri-Sat 10 am—5 pm
President: Stella Beratlis Sunday: closed
Vice-President: Joan Patterson
Secretary: Vacant
Treasurer: Jonaca Driscoll
Little Shop
inside the Modesto Library
Membership: Ellen Dambrosio
Activities: Barbara Quinn 209-573-3142
Check our website for hours:
ModestoLibraryFriends.org
Friends Bulletin

This newsletter is published

quarterly by the Friends of the
Modesto Library. Copies may be IMPORTANT NOTICE: Effective February 1, 2010, the Library will
requested by emailing
info@modestolibraryfriends.org. no longer send courtesy hold notices by U.S. Mail. Please provide your
e-mail address to receive hold notices and overdue reminders. You may
The Friends of the Modesto Library
is a nonprofit organization that
update your e-mail information by going to “My Account” in the Library
promotes goodwill and support by Catalog, then to “Profile”; or call (209) 558-7808.
the community for the Modesto
Library, stimulates public
awareness of Modesto Library
needs, and seeks out sources of
cultural and educational programs
for the Modesto Library. New Seating in the Children’s Department
Mail: In early 2009, the
FOML
P.O. Box 4565 Modesto Library
Modesto CA 95352 requested that the
info@modestolibraryfriends.org
Friends purchase six
Online: Lunella Stackable Seats
http://www.ModestoLibraryFriends.org
to be used under Ryan’s
Board of Directors 2009-2010 Reading Tree in the
Children’s Department.
Officers
President: Stella Beratlis Board members
Vice-Pres: Joan Patterson approved the use of
Secretary: vacant
Treasurer: Jonaca Driscoll
Friends funds for this furniture and so the order was placed. Those seats
finally arrived at the start of January—and what a glorious splash of color
Directors:
they add to the Children’s Department.
Membership: Ellen Dambrosio
Book Sale: Anne Britton
Activities: Barbara Quinn The seats, intended for small children to sit and enjoy reading or browsing
Publicity: vacant through library materials, are soft, bouncy cushions that can be sat upon, slid
Hospitality: vacant
At-Large/Gift Shop Mgr: Peggy
upon, and carried around by children of all sizes. Designed by Enrico
Gardiner Baleria and Denis Santachiara for Baleria Italia, they’re a practical and
Newsletter: Gene & Lin-Ching Malone,
Anne Britton, and many others!
usable example of Italian design. With washable covers, the Lunella
Stackable Seats are sure to be a hit with kids at the Modesto Library for
Special thanks to Dittos of Modesto
(www.dittosprint.com)
years to come.

The Friends of the Modesto Library is

a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the
state of California. All contributions are
tax-deductible as allowed by law.
ID#: 77-0038333

Page 2

What’s coming up?
Events at Modesto Library
Community Hospice Family Caregiver
Education
Community Hospice is presenting a series of four
more Family Caregiver Education programs at the
library, all starting at 6:30 p.m. The dates are
February 24, March 24, April 28, and May 26.
The programs are held in the Modesto Library
Auditorium.
All of the Month of February
Children’s Lincoln Bookmark contest. Pick up
entry forms in Modesto’s Children’s Department
or at branch libraries.
March 3, 7:00 p.m.: Annual FOML
Membership Meeting
Don’t miss our annual meeting. Entertainment by
YES Ambassadors. Modesto Library Auditorium.
March 7-13: Teen Tech Week
Contact the Library for details.
March 11 and 13: Used Book Sale—SALIDA
Friends of the Salida Library are accepting
donations of new and gently used books,
magazines, CDs, videos and DVDs. Donations
can be dropped off in the container in the Salida
Library lobby at 4835 Sisk Road. All proceeds
support children’s programs, special events and
supplies at the Salida Library. Sale hours at the
Salida Library are Thursday, March 11 from 10:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 13 from
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information,
please call 543-7315.
Friends Bulletin
March 13, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.: All-Friends
Conference
For all Friends groups supporting Stanislaus
County Libraries. Modesto Library Auditorium.
March 17, 7:00 p.m.: Reading The Namesake by
author Jhumpa Lahiri
Modesto Library Book Club. In the Modesto
Library Auditorium.
March 20, 2:00 p.m.: Christi Phillips, author of
The Rossetti Letter and The Devlin Diary
Sponsored by the Stanislaus County Library
Foundation and the Modesto Bee. Salida Library
Community Room.
May 1, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: Used Book
Sale—MODESTO
Presented by Friends of the Modesto Library. For
inquiries regarding book donations, please contact
Clare Noonan at clarenoo@gmail.com. Sale will
be held on the Modesto Library portico.
May 12 through 15, Scholastic Discount New
Kids Book Sale
The “Customer Appreciation warehouse Remote
sale” you have been waiting for will have
discounts of 30% to 80%. Modesto Library
Auditorium. Volunteers are needed to staff this
sale. The hours worked will buy books for
library and literacy programs. For information
and to volunteer, call Anne Britton at 209-996-
1531.
Page 3
Friends Bulletin
Destination: Success!
The Scholastic Destination Book
Fair: Read Around the World was
held November 12 - 14 in the
Library auditorium. In addition to
nearly $1,000 income for the
Friends and $275 credit awarded
by Scholastic which can be spent
on their products, an additional
$600-plus in books were collected
and distributed to library, literacy
and youth agency programs. These
books were purchased by shoppers
through Wish Lists and distributed
to the Library’s Children’s and
Teen programs as well as:
• Children’s Crisis Center/
Cricket’s House
• Golden Valley Heath Centers/
Reach Out and Read
• Haven Women’s Shelter
• Hutton House
• Parent Resource Center
• Redwood Family Center
• Sierra Vista Child & Family
Services
• Stanislaus Literacy Center/
Family Literacy Program
• Toys for Tots
Heartfelt thanks to all 24
volunteers who helped set up, pack
down and staff the three day book
fair. And a special thanks to Dittos
for their continuing contributions
for printing publicity material to
advertise the event.

Book Club in a Box

Are you in a book club? Thinking of starting one? Community book
clubs now have free access to sets of books through the County Library
system. More than 80 titles are available including Eat, Pray, Love, The
Kite Runner, and Life of Pi. Each set has 15 to 20 copies. Some have an
audio or large-print edition included. For more information, call the
Salida Library (543-7315), where the books are stored.

Halloween Fun
Roughly 200 people attended the 2009 Halloween event at the Modesto
Library. The Stanislaus Library Foundation funded a Trick or Treat pa-
rade and costume contest with book store gift certificates as prizes. With
help from the library’s Outreach department, volunteers from the Friends
staffed treat stations throughout the library handing out posters, magnet
frames, stickers, rainbow bracelets, and of course - candy! Smiles were
had by all, not least the adorable children.

Page 4
Literature Rack Donated by Tuolumne River Woodworkers
Thanks to Richard Philpot and members of the Tuolumne River Woodworkers Association
(TRWA), the Little Shop now has a lovely literature rack on which to place books for sale. The
racks are designed so that smaller books can fit easily in the top tier of the rack, leaving space
in the bottom rack for those larger-format books we offer.
The TRWA, a nonprofit local organi-
zation for individuals who like to
work with wood, has a strong com-
munity service orientation. In addi-
tion to tackling numerous outreach
projects throughout the year, TRWA
members create more than a thou-
sand wood toys annually for distribu-
tion to children in our community.
For more information about TRWA,
please visit trwa.net.
Stella Beratlis with the new literature rack.
Photo courtesy of Richard Philpot.

Return of the Friends’ Used Book Sale

Book lovers rejoice--the Friends of the Modesto Library is holding the first of what we hope
will be an Annual Used Book Sale to benefit the Modesto Library on May 1, 2010. Many years
ago, when this Friends group first started, we used to hold used book sales. However, for the
past fifteen years (at least), the used book sale had fallen by the wayside. But now we're back,
scheming to raise money for the Modesto Library, and planning to have a great time in the
process.

The Friends Used Book Sale is scheduled for Saturday May 1 on the Modesto Library Portico
from 10 am to 3 pm. We're looking for good-condition used books and other media (DVDs,
videos, etc.) which you may not need. What better way to dispose of your unwanted/unused
reading material than donating to the Friends so we can raise funds for the Modesto Library?
Please contact Clare Noonan at clarenoo@gmail.com if you have items to donate.

“Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best

friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to
read.” —Groucho Marx
Page 5
Friends Bulletin
LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT:
Insomnia Anodyne Short Stories
Anne Britton
Anyone else out there an insom-
niac? Reading helps me slow
down and drop off to sleep. Unless
the book is too good to close, then
reading until midnight finishing a
book makes wake-up time come
too early for me. My solution is to
read short stories.
The Modesto Library arranges its
short story collection two ways.
An author’s collected works, say a
book of stories by Poe, will be
shelved with his other fiction
works. But if you dip into the un-
known, try the other location - the
Short Story Collection. It is
housed against the wall behind the
regular fiction area and includes
genres like mysteries, science fic-
tion, women authors, time periods,
and “best of” volumes. If you
think you’ve read everything on
the library shelf by your favorite
author, you may be wrong. Use
the library catalog and look up the
author’s name using the “Any
Word” search. You may find other
shorter works in one of the Short
Story Collection editions. Pleasant
dreams!

Squirrel Has a Name!

Last year, the Friends purchased a
squirrel puppet for the Children’s De-
partment to use as a mascot. During
November, the Children’s Department
held a contest to name the squirrel.
The two lucky winners, Halle and Na-
than, chose books donated by Friends
of the Modesto Library.
Toby Pattertwig

Nathan Halle
Page 6
 SUPPORT OUR LIBRARY

The Friends of the Modesto Library is an organization dedicated to making

our library more useful to more people. A friend is someone like YOU ...
willing to support our library. You may use the application form below.
President What does Friends of the Modesto Library do?
Stella Beratlis Many things!!! Friends of the Modesto Library was originally founded to
protect the citizens’ freedom to read. More recently, in times of reduced
Vice President
budgets, The Friends have come forth to help fund everything from Storyteller
Joan Patterson
and Mime Programs for children, as well as book rewards for the Summer
Treasurer Reading Programs. We have also provided the baby library card flyer for new
Jonaca Driscoll mothers, along with varied improvements to the library.
Secretary Why should I join?
Tracy Sahn Your membership dues will provide for continuing and expanding these
programs. You will receive a newsletter with advance notice of upcoming
Membership events and current activities.
Ellen Dambrosio
How do I join?
Activities Tear off the membership form below, enclose your annual dues, and mail it in
Barbara Quinn now. Make out your tax deductible check to Friends of the Modesto Library.
Book Fairs What do I have to do after I become a member?
Anne Britton Your participation in activities is on a voluntary basis. You may be asked to
participate in Friends’ activities to help the library in various ways. Please
Gift Shop Manager indicate your area of interest on the membership form.
Peggy Gardiner
..............................................................................................................................................
Friends of the Modesto Library Membership Category*
P O Box 4565 R Student $ 5
Modesto, CA 95352 R Individual $ 15
info@modestolibraryfriends.org R Family $ 25
R Business $ 100
Name(s): R Patron $ 200
_______________________________ Any additional
Address: contribution $____
_______________________________ Total enclosed $____
City/Zip: I am interested in helping with:
_______________________________
Newsletter___ Publicity_____
Phone: ________________________ Web________ Graphic Art___

Email: ________________________ Programs____ Membership __

R New member R Renewing member Fundraising__ Gift Shop_____
*Friends of the Modesto Library is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, Federal Tax ID #: 77-0038333.
Contributions are deductible as allowed by law. 09/2009

Page 7