Friends of the Albany Library

Welcome to Friends of the Albany Library!

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 friendsalbany@yahoo.com 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 Memorial Day, Monday, May 25; Juneteenth, Friday, June 19, and Independence Day, Saturday, July 4.

SPECIAL 3-MONTH SERIES OF ALBANY COMMUNITY READS EVENTS MARCH-MAY

Please join us as the Albany Library launches a three-month community wide reading and event experience inspired by the The Poet and the Silk Girl: A Memoir of Love, Imprisonment, and Protest by Albany author Satsuki Ina. Receive a free copy of the book (while supplies last), hear from the author, experience a powerful documentary presentation, and help fold thousands of origami cranes as a shared symbol of remembrance and hope.

Through films, art, poetry, history talks, cultural programs, and conversations on civil liberties and belonging, Albany Reads invites neighbors of all ages to learn from the past and imagine a more just future together. Given the current national political climate, the Albany Reads events will be timely, topical, educational, interesting, and inspiring.

Detailed information on events will be included on the Friends Site Events Page Events | Friends of the Albany Library during the month the event occurs. Link to all of the events in the Community Reads Series on the ACL Albany Library events page: Events | Alameda County Library | BiblioCommons

Albany Reads Kick Off – Sunday, March 1
A History of Immigration Law – Tuesday, March 3
Alternative Facts – The Lies of Executive Order 9066 – Wednesday, March 4
Children of the Camps – Wednesday, March 18
Albany’s Book Club – The Poet and the Silk Girl – Saturday, March 21
Conscience and the Constitution – Wednesday, April 1
Albany Reads Discussion Group – The Poet and the Silk Girl – Sunday, April 5
Rabbit in the Moon Documentary – Wednesday, April 15
Albany Reads Mid Event – Poetry and Resilience – Sunday, April 19
Albany Reads Discussion Group – The Poet and the Silk Girl – Tuesday, April 21
From a Silk Cocoon Documentary followed by a Discussion with Satsuki Ina – Wednesday, April 29
Albany Reads Discussion Group – The Poet and the Silk Girl – Saturday, May 2
Albany Reads Discussion Group – The Poet and the Silk Girl – Tuesday, May 19
And Then They Came for Us – Documentary followed by a Discussion with Satsuki Ina and Abby Ginzberg – Wednesday, May 27

Albany Reads Events are co-supported by Path to Belonging, a project of the City of Albany; the League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Emeryville; Friends of Albany Library, and the Albany Reads series

Come participate in this extraordinary season of learning and connection with your neighbors, because when a community reads together, it can also grow, heal, and imagine together. “We are stronger together than we are alone.” – Walter Payton, Chicago Bears Running Back

NEXT BOOK SALE TARGETED FOR FALL 2026

We are targeting our next Friends Book Sale for the Fall of 2026 and will provide an update to this site as planning is completed and the date is firmed up. 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

In the meantime, please continue to donate books to help us prepare and stock up for the Fall Book Sale. You can also purchase books oon 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 look forward to seeing you at the Fall Friends Book Sale!

BOOK DONATIONS ACCEPTED BY APPOINTMENT

The Friends are now taking donations, but by advance appointment only.

For more information about the Albany Branch of the Alameda County Library including open days/hours, visit Albany | Alameda County Library (aclibrary.org)

Please see the Donate Books page which can be accessed by clicking the link on the navigation bar in the upper right of the Home Page for more information on acceptable donations. Thank you for your donations, they support Albany Library’s programs!

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 May.

Please go to the Friends Site Events Page for more detailed event information, including event time and location as well as registration requirements if applicable.

May One-Time Events Supported by the Friends

Kindness and Belonging Storytime – Saturday, May 2
Albany Reads Discussion Group – Saturday, May 2
Chess Class – Sunday, May 3
Build It – Monday, May 4
Tsuru for Solidarity: Panel Discussion – Tuesday, May 5
Author Talk with Ellie Yang Camp – Louder than the Lies, Asian American Identity, Solidarity & Self-Love, Wednesday, May 6
Game On – Thursday, May 7
Arts & Crafts at Albany Library – Secret Craft We’re Making – Come See What We’re Creating – Saturday, May 9
Family Music Lab – Sunday, May 10
Build It – Monday, May 11
Introduction to Estate Planning & Living Trust at Albany Library – Tuesday, May 12
Toddler Dance Party – Thursday, May 14
One Book, One Coast Discussion – Thursday, May 14
Albany Library’s Saturday Afternoon Book Club – The Frozen River – Saturday, May 16
Preparing an Emergency GO Bag – Saturday, May 16
Chess Class – Sunday, May 17
Make Your Own Beeswax Food Wraps – Sunday, May 17
Ikebana with Keiko Kubo – Tuesday, May 19
Toddler Dance Party – Thursday, May 21
Game On – Thursday, May 21
Family Music Lab – Sunday, May 24
Finals Study Zone – Wednesday, May 27
Finals Study Zone – Thursday, May 28

Get Involved!

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