FRIENDS OF THE ALBANY LIBRARY (FAL) 

The Friends’s purpose is to benefit the library by selling books and other materials in the library, on the Internet, and during on-site book sales. Please go to the Benefit Page to see the types of ongoing events and items that FAL supports. FAL operations and most of our sales take place at 1247 Marin Ave, Albany CA 94706.

Call us at 510.526.3720 during library open days/hours, after selecting a language option, wait for the option to reach Friends of the Albany Library to leave a message as our office is not “staffed”. Leave a message and we’ll call you back. You can also reach us by email at [email protected] any time.

For more information about the Albany Branch of the Alameda County Library including open days/hours, visit Albany | Alameda County Library (aclibrary.org)  The Albany Library is closed on all Fridays. Upcoming library holiday closures are Labor Day, Monday, September 7 and Staff Training Day, Thursday, October 15

BOOK DONATIONS ARE PAUSED UNTIL MID NOVEMBER IN ORDER TO PREPARE FOR THE FALL SALE

The Friends have paused taking donations so that we can prepare for the huge book sale on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8. We look forward to seeing you at both the book sale and also to receiving your donations again starting mid November.  

FREEDOM TO READ FEST SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4      

The Albany Library Freedom to Read Fest is coming on October 4, 2026, from 12 PM – 5 PM. Hope to see you there! 

This fun, family-friendly event celebrates Banned Books Week with something for everyone

Scheduled Events: Community Center Main Hall

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Meet the Authors
Tabling event with guest authors

12:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Banned Books Drag Bingo w/Ms. Sweet Nothing
A guaranteed fun time!

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM: Alameda County Youth Poet Laureate readings

2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Let Kids’ Books Be
Children’s authors panel discussion, moderated by author/librarian Katryn Bury.
Featuring:

• Joanna Ho
• Michael Leali
• Eugene Yelchin

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Meet the Authors
Tabling event with guest authors

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Protecting Your Freedom to Read
Adults’ authors panel discussion, moderated by author Lauren Davis.
Featuring:

• Sue Granzella
• Dorothy Lazard

Drop-in Activities
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Community Center lobby and patio:

• Postcard writing
• Carnival games
• Henna

Edith Stone Room:

• Banned Books Decoded w/Lauren Davis (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
• Banned books trivia 
• Mini-zine making
• Button making

Throughout the Library:

• Scavenger hunt—find the clues to earn raffle tickets
• Stamp Passport—complete fun activities to earn raffle tickets
• Banned books bookmark contest
• Read-a-thon
• Matching game
• Banned books sticker voting interactive display
• Raffles on the hour starting at 2:00 PM: Your chance to win prizes—books, games, totes and more!
• Free books for participating in activities!

COMING SOON – FALL BOOK SALE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8      

Our on-site Book Sale is coming up on Saturday November 7 and Sunday November 8! This will be a huge sale with thousands of books!

The Community Center Big Room (across the hall from the Library) will have books of many genres for all ages from picture books for toddlers, chapter books for kids, books for tweens and teens and fiction and non-fiction for adults on sale for 50 cents. The Big Room will also have Holiday Books and Puzzles starting at $1.00. The Edith Stone Room (entered from building hallway) will have collectable, rare and vintage books, book sets, vinyl and puzzles starting at $1.00. 

Hours:

• Saturday, November 7: 9am-5pm for both the Big Room and Edith Stone Room
• Sunday, November 8: 10am-4pm for the Big Room and 10am-2pm for the Edith Stone Room

In the meantime, you can purchase books on the ongoing shelf sale in the library and online at Shop Friends of the Albany Library Books and Collectibles | AbeBooks: Eve’s Book Garden 

We will be looking for volunteers to assist in setting up, cashiering and cleaning up shortly!  As always, we appreciate your help and participation! We can’t do it without you!  

Please note that revenues from past book sales starting in March 2020 through the most recent book sale are kept on the Sales Page: Sales & Signup | Friends of the Albany Library  We look forward to seeing you at the Fall Friends Book Sale!

UPCOMING LIBRARY EVENTS SUPPORTED BY THE FRIENDS

We are happy to share a list of one-time library events supported by the Friends for the month of October.

Please go to the Friends Site Events Page for more detailed event information, including event time and location

October One-Time Events Supported by the Friends

• Freedom to Read – Sunday, October 4
• Little Dance Party – Monday, October 5

• Rockin’ Kids Sing-Along – Wednesday,  October 7

• Chess Class – Wednesday, October 7

• An Interview with Sarita Sarvate, Author of the Memoir Midnight’s Daughter – Wednesday, October 7

• Storytime in Hebrew – Saturday, October 10

• Upcycled Art Class: Flowers in a Book: Part 2 – Saturday, October 10

• Getting Started with Your College Essays – Sunday, October 11

• Little Dance Party – Monday, October 12

• Rockin’ Kids Sing-Along – Wednesday,  October 14

• High School Book Club – Wednesday, October 14

• Pajama Storytime – Wednesday, October 14

• Albany’s Saturday Afternoon Book Club: South to America – Saturday, October 17

• Little Dance Party – Monday, October 19

• Rockin’ Kids Sing-Along – Wednesday,  October 21

• Read to a Dog – Wednesday,  October 21

• Little Dance Party – Monday, October 26

• Rockin’ Kids Sing-Along – Wednesday,  October 28

• Halloween Storytime – Saturday, October 31

• Halloween Crafts – Saturday, October 31