October presents an opportunity each year to give formal recognition to important causes: breast cancer awareness, “Coming Out Day” and domestic violence prevention among them.
For me, however, October is largely synonymous with Friends of the Library book fairs.
If I had to summarize these sales with one word, I”d use “serendipitous.” How else to describe the excitement of finding “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki at a Friends of the Middletown Library sale, right after my husband had said he wanted to read that book? Finding a set of hardcover George Eliot novels during a sale at the Yountville Veterans Home Library? Or finding a signed copy of “Free Speech for Me ? But Not for Thee” by Nat Hentoff at the Friends of Santa Rosa Library”s sale at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds?
I”ve relied upon libraries all my life, ever since my mother arranged for my first library card at the branch in Calistoga. Since then, wherever I lived or worked, I”ve checked out books and other materials through the local library systems.
I used to have a collection of library cards from Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties.
When I moved to Lake County more than 12 years ago, I discovered that I was already in its database thanks to the combined catalog system between Lake, Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Whenever I place requests for a book, the copy that arrives for me at the library in Lakeport may have come from any branch in any one of these three counties.
As part of my support for libraries, I frequently bring donations of books to one of our local branches. I also regularly attend Friends of the Library book fairs.
Each October, Friends associations in Lake, Napa and Sonoma counties schedule book-selling events.
I hope you can appreciate the magnanimity, with no thought of personal gain, that accompanies my purchasing books from a Friends of the Library book sale. I rank it with the daily brushings that I give to my long-haired cat.
First on the calendar is the open house and sale hosted by Friends of the Lake County Library, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, at the Lakeport branch. There will be books, records, DVDs, CDs and VHS tapes available. Organizers have also planned a reading by Kit DeCanti and live music by Erin Call, Eleanor Cook and Greg Bushta of Lake Fiddlers.
Next up is the twice-yearly book fair, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 17 in front of the Middletown library. The books are arranged on tables on the lawn and some are sold per book but most are sold by the bagful.
Friends of the Middletown Library also holds its book fair during Middletown Days in June. It was the highlight for me, this year, of the entire celebration.
After relying for so many years on four counties” library systems, two of which are actually linked in a shared online catalog, they are all still “local” to me, so I visit as many book fairs as my time and budget will allow.
Friends of Santa Rosa Libraries will hold its next book sale Oct. 16 to 19 in Finley Hall at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. For hours and information about driving and transit options, visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us/friends/SantaRosa_bk.html.
Cynthia Parkhill is the focus pages editor for the record-Bee and editor of the Clear Lake Observer?American. She can be contacted at ObserverAmerican@gmail.com or 263-5636 ext. 28.
