Come On In!

Need some place warm to go? Someplace where no one is frenetically trying to grab the last bargain? Where there's no requirement for a uniformed officer to direct traffic getting in and out?

Reston Regional Library is just that place. All is calm, and all is bright. And you can escape the noise, noise, noise, noise!

If driving around yesterday made you feel just a bit grinchy, stop by the library today and get some soothing books to read over the holiday.

Reminder: Thursday and Friday, December 24-25, the Library will be closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Photo by Darlene

The Library is . . .

OPEN!

Per Branch Manager Andrew Pendergrass, the sidewalks and parking lot are clear. The streets around the library are still dicey, so be careful. And that 4-way stop is always a problem, so be careful there too!

Snow Kidding

This is what the bookdrop looked like from the outside after the County furlough days.

The weather is moving in, so you'd better get to the library TODAY and stock up on good reads! While you're there, take a minute to thank a staff member. The people who work at Reston Regional Library are part of a team of talented, dedicated professionals who serve throughout Fairfax County. They are continually asked by the County to do "more" with "less". Incredibly, the libraries are one of the first entities on the block for budget cutting, and the staff at RR just handle it with true grace.

Think about this -- less than 1% of your County tax dollars support the library. Over 50% of your County tax dollars support FCPS. And yet the libraries greatly support the school mission by filling in those after-school hours with kids and adults who need assistance, tutoring, research ideas, and books! In fact, many of the county-wide budget dialogues were held at the libraries. Where will we hold those in the future if the libraries are closed due to lack of funding?

This is what the bookdrop looked like from the inside after the County furlough days.

Take care of our libraries, take care of our staff!

Thanks!

Running Out of Time?

When it gets too close to the shipping deadlines to get the holiday gifts you want to give your friends, talk to us! If you're a local, current Friend of Reston Regional Library, and you see something on our RestonFriends listing that would be a good gift for a friend, we can get it to you without shipping costs! Just e-mail us. If you're not current, click the side bar to renew your membership!

Here are a few to think about:

DVD of Roald Dahl's classic story with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.

Still shrinkwrapped, $10

The letters of Joy Davidman, the wife of C. S. Lewis

Hardcover, $16.50

Michaelangelo: The Frescoes of Sistine Chapel

Hardcover, $80

Need Gifts?

Do you know someone who is fascinated by Victorian or Stuart Britain? Or someone who aspires to be a fiction writer with stories set in either of those ages? These two books would be a great addition to any Anglophile bookshelf. In excellent gift-giving condition, these two are part of the Who's Who in Britain series and would be a fun gift to receive! They're $14 each at RestonFriends1, but if you want both, e-mail us and we'll see if we can work out a deal. (Deal offered to current, local Friends of Reston Regional Library only)

If you or a friend are interested in Chinese medicine, this book, Chinese Natural Cures, is a great resource to try to sort out what "translates" and what doesn't. In the alternative, this is a great gift book for a physician, pharmacist or even fiction writer! Don't limit your gift giving to the predictable! It's a nice copy, only $15 at RestonFriends1.

Artist Eng Tay is featured in this book. He was born and raised in Malaysia and has developed a unique style in which he portrays groups of people living life together to the fullest. He draws upon his many travels through Asia and South America, and his adopted home of New York, for his subject matter. This is an excellent gift book for someone who appreciates graphic arts. It is $86 at RestonFriends1 .

These books are available right now at our RestonFriends1 website at Amazon.com. If you are a local, current Friend, we can get them to you without you having to pay postage. Just e-mail us!

/kw

Hold That Thought . . . Er . . . Book

In order that our elves can attend to their own homes for the holiday season, we're closing our donations bin for a short time. Please hold on to those books and renew donations in January. We LOVE your donations, but just need a little breathing room! Thank you!

BOOK DONATIONS CLOSED

DECEMBER 13-JANUARY 5

As a reminder, when the donations bin IS open, we have a few guidelines we ask you to follow so that we can concentrate our energy on sorting and maintaining the very best of donations for our book sales.

For all the specifics on how to donate books, we have developed a brochure. You can get your own copy here.

Thank you!

Missed the Holiday Sale?

Well don't despair. Just look at what we have on RestonFriends1!

Remember, if you're a current local Friend, you can get them without paying postage. Just e-mail us!

Enjoy!

/kw

Holiday Open House

What a wonderful time at the Reston Regional Library yesterday. Music, treats, sale books and an awesome balloon man.

The funniest thing about the afternoon was the Cub Scout Pack who had been displaced from their original meeting place and so met at RR. When the boys discovered free cookies after their meeting they were over the moon! I pity the parents who welcomed those sugar highs back home! One boy had his hands full of cookies. I asked if he'd left any on the tray and he said, "it's one for me, one for mom, one for my dad, and one for each of my three brothers." Oh my...

The balloon man was incredible. His name is Joe Oleszczuk! The kids wearing his creations throughout the library could be spotted by the variety, intensity, color and height of the creations. Many of them looked like something out of Dr. Seuss! Stay tuned for contact information for him. If you want to book him for an event, you can get in touch with him HERE.

The music was, once again this year, very lovely. Dulcimer, guitar, violin...and little dancing girls made the holiday atmosphere just perfect! Feel the Wag is the name of the band. They were short a

musician, but Bud Burwell and Scott Malyszka gave the listeners a good time anyway! Bud is a long-time Friend and owner of Reston Used Book Shop at Lake Anne.

Scott Malyszka has a site and a CD...you can check them out by clicking here.

The book sale was very successful and a good time was had by all!

/kw

Holiday Sale Scenes

This is just a glimpse of the available books! Come see what gifts are awaiting you and yours in this wonderful selection!

The Friends' Ambassador of Cheerfulness, Mary Ann, will help you find books you didn't realize you were missing in your life! And if you need advice on helping your feline survive holiday stress, Mary Ann is the one to ask!

Vicki is our long-time faithful cashier. Meticulous and friendly, we rely on her every sale.

If Vicki is taking a break, Charly is always happy to take your money.

Don't forget Friends' merchandise -- excellent gifts that also support the library! Adult T-Shirts (XL, L, S) $10;

Youth (L, M) $8;

Mugs $5;

Mousepads $4;

Lanyards $3.

We're bundling for discount. Any two items, $1 off total purchase; Any three items, $1.50 off and Any four items, $2 off! This is too good a deal to pass up!

Come join the Staff and Friends of Reston Regional Library for a Holiday Open House on

Sunday, December 6, 1:30-3:30

Joe, the balloon sculptor will be there; music and refreshments will abound. It will be the last day of the Holiday Sale so don't miss it!

Holiday Mini Sale in Full Swing

Yesterday was the first day of the Holiday Mini Sale at Reston Regional Library. The brightly colored, high quality, low-priced books were a delightful alternative to the cold rain outside. Sales were brisk and people were cheerful.

Today the weather is supposed to be a bit less frightful, but that won't change our books -- they'll still be high-quality and low priced. Come see what we're talking about!

Today (Thursday) through Sunday, Opening through 4 p.m. each day.

On Sunday, please join us for Reston Regional Library's Holiday Open House, starting at 1:30. We'll have music, refreshments and holiday cheerfulness.

Despite the budget woes, no bah humbug for this group of dedicated staff members!

The Holiday Open House is underwritten by the Friends of Reston Regional Library. No county funds are expended in bringing the holiday spirit to our patrons!

MINI HOLIDAY SALE TOMORROW

The Friends of Reston Regional Library Mini-Holiday Used Book Sale starts tomorrow, Wednesday, at 10 a.m.

Giftable books of all types and topics as well as great merchandise for purchase!

Don't miss it!