Saturday morning's workers put the finishing touches in the room: signs on each table to tell customers the type of books to be found there (fiction, nonfiction such as cooking or computers, childrens, audio/visual, etc.); two checkout tables by the two doors with bookmarks for handouts; signs listing prices by type of book; cash boxes with change; and paper bags donated by PW Supermarkets for customers to carry home their purchases.  Friends volunteers made a final check for any books out of place or turned the wrong way on the tables, and then, at 9 o'clock, the doors were opened for the waiting crowds.

Looking closely at the photo above on the right, one can see that the workers in the last minutes before the doors opened included one of our branch librarians and the Chairman of the San Jose Library Commission.  The photographer got a closer look at them... At left, Mana Tominaga, Almaden Librarian, came in during her break to buy a few books.  At right, Vince Tarpey, Chairman of the San Jose Library Commission, helped with setting up tables and books, and then found a few books to buy, also.

The crowd waiting outside had been growing since around 8:15, so when the doors were opened at 9 o'clock, the customers surged in.  They spread out around the tables and started filling their arms, bags, and even boxes that some of them had brought.  Repeat customers make up a good portion of the Almaden book sale purchasers, and we always suggest buying books, reading them, and then returning them for the next book sale!  The customers worked their way around the room, looking over everything.

The Friends members at the checkout tables were doing a great job.  Many thanks to all Friends workers; we couldn't hold the Book Sales without you!

Diane Perovich, below at left, was selling the T-shirts from the Grand Opening with the "Almaden Past" image.  At right, it hardly seemed possible, but the crowds had grown to almost double the size in the first 20 minutes.

The books for very young children were displayed on the stage, lower than the tables, so that the children could see the books better.   The checkout lines were growing longer, but customers waited patiently because they were getting a great bargain and the sale was for a good cause: the library.

If you look toward the rear in the center of the photo, you will spot Pam Crider, the Branch Manager of the Almaden Branch Library, who so kindly asked some of the librarians to bring in snacks and drinks for the volunteers working at the sale.  At the right are four of the teenagers, organized by librarian Ed Koetitz, who were extremely helpful before, during, and after the sale: in setup, straightening books, and in packing the books back into boxes at the end so that unsold books could be sent to the downtown King Library.

This sale, the first one in our new Almaden Library/Community Center building, was very successful, raising $3030.25.  As far as we can find in records of past Friends of the Almaden Library book sales, this one raised more money than any before.  We think that is partly due to several factors: The sale was held all in one room, without having to put some of the books outside; There were double the number of tables available, so none of the books had to be placed on the ground or floor where the titles were difficult to see (as we had to do in the past); The Friends members who sorted the donations as they came in did a tremendous job in picking out the books which were in very good or excellent condition, separated the books into many categories, boxed and labeled them by category... all of which allowed the books to be set up on tables in many categories; The teenagers were an invaluable aid in setting up the tables and books and in packing everything up again at the end (the Friends members could not have done it alone; There were many very good donations of books and audio/visual materials for this sale, perhaps some from Almaden residents who had been holding onto donations since the old Almaden Branch Library had been torn down; and Many Almaden residents have been waiting anxiously for 2.5 years for the new library to open and to hold its first Book Sale. We thank you all very, very much, donors, Friends workers, and customers, and the library staff thanks you, especially, because now the librarians can purchase more materials for you and put on more special programs for you!