Jerrilyn Kaplan passed away on March 13, 2021 after a sudden illness. Jerri volunteered in the book sorting room on Monday mornings and loved her time there, including trading jigsaw puzzles with fellow volunteers. She continued to ask when the library would be opening so she could get back to
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The FAL Board issued a statement strongly condemning the violence against AAPI and other oppressed groups. In addition to the statement, Board members will contribute to Asian Americans Advancing Justice and support the Library’s purchase of materials from and about the AAPI community. Friends @ Home programs have highlighted the
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In a time of destruction, create something: a poem, a parade, a community, a school, a vow, a moral principle; one peaceful moment.” - Maxine Hong Kingston Friends of the Alameda Free Library is devastated about the recent tragic shootings and the increasing violence in our country. We condemn the
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The Friends of the Alameda Free Library was recently featured on News Break, a website that features local news and interesting headlines. The piece, which discusses the Friends @ Home virtual programming and online used bookstore, can be read here: https://www.newsbreak.com/california/alameda/news/2186000169275/want-to-up-your-intelligence-try-friends-of-the-alameda-free-library Many thanks
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The February author and docent talks were outstanding. Since April 2020, we have had over 3,000 registrations for our events! A special recognition goes to the Rotary Club of Alameda for supporting the two wonderful February programs on Black artists – many of whom we had never heard of before,
Community Events
On March 6, 2021, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library was joined (from London!) by internationally best-selling author Jung Chang, whose books include her family autobiography “Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China” and “Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister,” a biography chronicling the three Soong sisters from Shanghai who
Community Events
On February 17, 2021, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library was joined by New York Times bestselling author Robin Sloan for a fun and engaging discussion of his books Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore and Sourdough, two novels steeped in the culture and history of the San Francisco Bay
On February 10, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library hosted Elsa Hart, a 2021 Mary Higgins Clark Award nominated author, for a discussion of her books, Jade Dragon Mountain, The White Mirror, City of Ink, and The Cabinets of Barnaby Mayne. Her talk is available to stream here:
On February 8, 2021, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library was joined by art docent Sherrill Koopot for a webinar titled “Hidden in Plain View: The African American Art Experience.” This program was made possible in part by a generous donation from the Alameda Rotary Club. This insightful presentation
On January 13, 2021, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library was joined by author Georgia Hunter for a discussion of her book, "We Were the Lucky Ones," which spent over four months on the New York Times Bestseller List. This talk is now available to stream here:
Jeptha Tillman Boone died peacefully at home in the presence of his loving wife, Valerie, on Saturday, November 8. He was 85. Dr. Boone was a veteran and served in the U.S. Navy in various parts of the world. When he left the military, he practiced internal medicine with
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Happy first day of 2021. Today, my message is to express deep gratitude to all of you who have supported the Friends and the Alameda Free Library in 2020. Thank you to the Library Director, thank you to the Library Staff, thank you to the Friends' staff and Board,