Finds for Father's Day

First, thank you and congratulations to the officers of the board of Friends of Reston Regional Library, Inc. who have all agreed to serve for another term. We are:

Brian Jacoby, President
Mike Kenney, VP and Membership
Jen Scutella, Treasurer
Judy Konnert, Secretary
Charly Karlsson, Book Sale Chair
Rik Karlsson, Member at Large
Pam Chin, Member at Large
Kelley Westenhoff, Member at Large

If you have concerns, questions, ideas, suggestions for the Board, please e-mail us.

Now, for Father's Day:  If you click on the photo, it will take you to where you can purchase the book. As always, if you're a current local Friend, you can avoid shipping by picking up at the library.

$32

$17.50

$75

Sale Finished - Bargains Continue

Our huge Semi-Annual Used Book Sale is finished but that doesn't mean the bargains are gone.

First, we have an ongoing sale that occurs whenever the library is open. The shelves containing those books for sale are located down the front hall in the alcove next to the pay phones/water fountains and between the bathrooms. There are even magazines opposite the alcove! The prices are the same as the book sale - $1.50 for hardback, $1.00 for trade paperback, unless marked otherwise. The way this works is that you make your selection and pay for them at the front desk. The shelves are restocked weekly, but you'll have to figure out for yourself which day has the 'freshest' books - it's part of the challenge of treasure hunting!

Second, we have a site on Amazon called RestonFriends1 where we post higher value and niche books that are more likely to move with a bigger audience. You can get there by clicking on the link. If you're a current, local Friend, we can get the book to the library for you and you can avoid postage.  Currently, we have a slew of Great Courses posted there. Here are some samples:

Let UPS do the Hard Stuff

Not only do we not want to get out in the snow and muck today, but the Library is closed.


"Oh No!" you exclaim.  "I'm down to my last two books!"


Never fear!  Go to RestonFriends1, our Amazon storefront, order what you want, and let UPS do the hard stuff in delivering!  Right now there is a LOT to choose from!


Great Courses (prices vary, see the website)
Black Holes
Herodotus
Masters of Greek Thought
The Louvre
Dark Matter
Emerson & Thoreau
Between the Rivers: Mespotamia
                    and others!

Raymond Blanc, A Taste of My Life $42

Reata: Legendary Texas Cooking ($21.50)

Simply Soup ($26)

Take the chill off and benefit the Reston Regional library at the same time!

Hidden Jewels

Our RestonFriends1 site has some great offerings that were just posted! Take a look at these:

This is the time of year to consider Butterfly gardening -- before stuff starts popping up in your yard. Give these beautiful creatures a place to stop-over for a treat, and treat yourself to one of creation's most beautiful jewels. $46

Speaking of beauty, wouldn't it be nice to know the the truth about it? Kat James will help you

see the beauty inside yourself, and give you strategies about how to let others see it as well. $14

To learn to draw well takes time, and a good teacher. This book can help you go from doodler to dazzler. $20

World Wide Rave: Creating Triggers that Get Millions of People to Spread Your Message and Share Your Stories. $13

As always, if you're a current, local Friend, we can get these to you without you having to pay postage. Just e-mail us!

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This Stuff Matters

We sent an e-letter to our membership this past week to alert them to the budget dilemma the libraries face. E-mail us if you'd like a copy. Please don't underestimate your influence on the County budget process. Historically, one can tell that the squeakiest of wheels are the ones that receive attendance by the ones holding the grease. And there's something UNIQUE about libraries -- we see and serve those who in many other areas of life HAVE NO VOICE.

The key to success in America is literacy. Period. Okay, it helps to have money, power, position, etc. But the key to unlocking how to achieve money, power, and position is LITERACY.

The libraries serve the homeless, the newly immigrated, those who have been here for a while but who struggle with the language, the very young who are beginning to decipher letters, the middle aged who enjoy reading for fun, the newly jobless who need resources to help them re-package their skills, the very old who now have time to read, the sight-impaired, the hearing-impaired, the disabled...

It is so VERY, VERY important that we all stay focused on this budget process. It is the only way we can ensure there is no slight-of-hand performed at the expense of the library budget.

And to quote Monty Python: And now for something completely different. A book or two from our Amazon site, RestonFriends1.

Tony Dungy, Uncommon: Finding Your Path to Significance (Audio CD/Abridged) $16.75

C. Ross Greening, Not as Briefed: From the Doolittle Raid to a German Stalag, $24.00

Search for Intelligent Life

On our RestonFriends1 site this morning we have some books and DVD's that say something about the search for intelligent life in our universe and culture.

The Intelligent Universe: AI, ET and the Emerging Mind of the Cosmos taps into the human desire to see what's just beyond the next corner or star. It's $16.50.

Saxon Algebra 1 and 1/2 are both on our website - and they won't last long.

And who doesn't want to watch more episodes of the BBC's MI-5 series? Here's a box of DVDs to enjoy in the cold months ahead. It's priced at $15.00

You can get any of these by clicking on the link above. If you are a local, current member, we can get them to you sans postage. Just e-mail us!

Gifts for Motorcyclists

Our Amazon storefront has a few books that would be great gifts for motorcycle enthusiasts! Check these out! You can purchase them direct from there, OR, if you are a current, local Friend, we can get them to you sans postage! E-mail us for more info, but hurry. Once they're gone from RestonFriends1, they're gone!

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Back to Whatever Normal Is

The blogger stopped by the library on Tuesday, briefly, and was shocked at how normal everything was in the hallway. What had been controlled chaos punctuated by thousands of books was an empty, neat hallway! Wow! This is testimony to the hard work and dedication of the Friends, Staff, and volunteers at Reston Regional Library.

But just because there isn't a smorgasbord of books THERE doesn't mean you can't get some great stuff through us! Just take a look at these!

The first one is Hunter Seat Equitation. It is missing its dust jacket -- but if you're really using this book, do you need it to be pristine? The horses don't care. It's $16 at RestonFriends1.

The second book is Encompassing Nature. It gets two Amazon reviews - one that loves it (5 stars) and one that hates it (1 star). They can't both be right -- so you need to pick this up to sort it all out! $38 at RestonFriends1.

And finally, if you find yourself staring for hours at Google Maps, this might be the book for you. Over The Mountains (An Aerial View of Geology) is written by a scientist/physician/pilot. This would make a great holiday gift for someone as well! It's $20 at RestonFriends1.

As always, if you're a current local Friend and are interested in one or more of these books, contact us and we'll sell them to you minus the shipping fee!

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Spotlight Amazon

One of the unsung heroes of the Friends of Reston Regional Library's operation is Judy K. Not only is she a faithful regular sorter, but Judy is also the person who takes the Amazon offerings home, photographs them, and gets them posted. When they sell, she gets them into the mail to their new homes. The 'satisfied buyer' rating Judy has harvested on Amazon reflects her personality and for those of us who know her, is no surprise.  Thanks Judy  for all the hard work you do!

Here are some of her latest postings.

The Consultant's Quick Start Guide: An Action Plan for Your First Year in Business. This book got 39 5-star reviews on Amazon. If you've been fantasizing about being your own boss and master of your own fate, this book is worth reading. It retails at $24.95 but we have it, unused, at Friends1 for $15.50.

Think you know a lot about Shakespeare?  Even better, do you have a friend who claims to know everything about Shakespeare?  One who randomly quotes the plays in a faux-Elizabethan accent (as if anyone knows what that really sounds like!)? If so, this is the purchase for you! This Quotable Shakespeare Knowledge Cards deck can make you as obnoxious as your acquaintance. And since more parties and gatherings will be at home in 2009 due to the economy, you'll need a party trick or two up your sleeve. The deck is $11.50 at Friends1.

The Little Prince, by Antonie de Saint-Exupery is a classic read for children of all ages. It is ubiquitous in the paperback copy that everyone reads in grade school. But to have a hardback copy to reflect upon is exceptional.  This copy is a First Edition, 2nd printing. To be honest, its condition is not perfect. Although the text is clean and tight, with bright and clear pictures, the previous owner's

 name is blanked out on the fly leaf.  Also, there is no DJ and the back cover is slightly faded in some areas and it is lightly stained along the fold of the spine. Nonetheless, it IS a First Edition, and this is a story worth having, especially in times of uncertainty. It's $18 at Friends1.

These are samples of the Specials we'll have available at the Semi-Annual Used Book Sale at the end of the month. You do NOT want to miss this sale. If these seem to be out of your pocketbook reach, don't worry -- we'll have thousands of books priced under $2 each.

SPRING 2009 SEMI-ANNUAL USED BOOK SALE

FRIENDS NIGHT - THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 6-8:30 P.M.

GENERAL PUBLIC

Friday, April 24, 10-5; Saturday April 25, 10-4:30;

 Sunday April 26, 12-3:30

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Roses and Valentines

The following description is copied from Amazon:  This massive volume by world-renowned horticulturist Macoboy is encyclopedic in scope, portraying over 1500 roses selected for their beauty, fragrance, and popularity. Although it contains brief information on rose cultivation and a scattering of features on such subjects as the rose in music, the heart of the book is the three alphabetical sections describing individual roses. The author uses the 1979 classification of the World Federation of Rose Societies; his main categories are wild roses, modern and old garden roses grouped together, and miniatures. Each entry includes a color photograph; information on the rose's history, cultivation, and parentage; and whether it is repeat flowering or fragrant. Roses are listed according to the name under which they were first released; the index provides access by later names. Beautiful to look at, this book will be most useful to readers looking for more information about varieties than is provided in growers' catalogs. Recommended for large or specialized collections.

Local Friends of Reston Regional Price: $17.00

The following description copied from Amazon:  

From Library Journal  Brenner, an author and curator specializing in the study of holiday customs, here looks at valentines produced in America in the 20th century. In chapters arranged by decade, the text details the history and stylistic changes of valentine production, with hundreds of illustrations exhibiting the romance and charm of the cards. Collectors will value the price guides and the descriptions of the production techniques and the various formats. The photographs also act as identification guides for various manufacturers and artists. This comprehensive social history is recommended as a unique guide for serious collectors of ephemera and as a popular history for all who love to give and get valentines.

Local Friends of Reston Regional Price: $32.00

For other wonderful books, see our Amazon store-front by clicking on it in the column to the right of this blog.  Local current friends can save shipping costs!  E-mail us at restonfriendspr@gmail.com

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The "Wright" Stuff

What a cool book!  Just posted on our Amazon storefront yesterday, this pop-up book of Frank Lloyd Wright designs just begs for a home under your Christmas tree!  It is $18.50 through our site.

If you're interested in purchasing, click on the link to the right to our Amazon storefront and go from there.  If you are a CURRENT local Friends member and you want to save shipping, contact us via our e-mail: RestonFriendsPr@gmail.com

Photos by JK

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