by Jill Forman
What’s going on?
As I write this, the facilities of the City and County of Ventura are closed to the public. Emergency and essential services continue to function.
Having misplaced my crystal ball…the original reopening date for the libraries was January 26 but no updates have been posted. The City has extended its closure until January 31.
The libraries are functioning with their normal hours. Readers can reserve their books online and pick them up at the branches. Computer kits are available. Storytimes have been held outdoors at Foster, online at other locations.
The Ukulele Jam took January off. Open Mike continues in a virtual format.
Carts of books for patrons to browse and check out are outdoors at Foster. Hill Road has books displayed in their window and another display of “Books About Books.”
The Mobile Library is still making stops; their schedule is available on the library web site.
Speaking of the website, it is vencolibrary.org.
Book groups (online?:)
Hill Road – Tues Feb 22nd at 5 p.m. The Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelley
Foster – On hiatus until April.
Ventura Friends of the Library News
Our financial reports have come in for the end of the year. Considering that our physical sale venues were closed for half the year, the numbers are impressive.
Book sales totaled at $31,000 (all figures rounded off:)
Foster Bookstore – $10,300
Hill Road shelves – $1100
Amazon sales – $9400
EBay sales – $500
Bulk sales (at warehouse) – 1000
Warehouse sales (to book dealers) – $2700
In-person book sales – $3700
Online Bookstore – $2200
Other income comes from donations, investments and Memberships. Showing how much the community supports the libraries, donations and grants came in to the tune of $12,000 and memberships totaled $14,200. As a result of hard work, flexibility and perseverance the Friends were able to give the libraries the gift of $53,500 last year!
Book Donations – Donation bins are outdoors during curbside hours at Foster and Hill Road. Please, just one bag of books at a time. The warehouse continues to accept donations on Fridays 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Due to the huge amounts of donated books we are receiving, we can still use volunteers at the warehouse.
Books, and our libraries, have helped many of us through the last two years. The Ventura Friends of the Library have supported all these efforts with time, money, and a lot of work. So…here’s my blurb of the day: Join Ventura Friends of the Library. Student: $10; Individual: $25; Family: $35. Download application to become a member, join online, or make a donation: Venturafriendsofthelibrary.org.
