Looking for a new home Looking for a new home (July 24, 2002)

Friends of the Library needs new space by September

by Don Kazak

A good cause with a lot of good books is looking for a new home.

The Friends of the Palo Alto Library is about to lose the space it has been using in the Terman Community Center.

Several members of the group appeared at the Palo Alto City Council meeting Monday night to make their appeal for the city to find them a new space.

The group learned last December it would have to vacate the classroom space it uses at Terman by Sept. 25.

The group sells used books at low cost to raise money for the library. In the last two years, it has raised more than $100,000 a year.

A low-cost group run by some 100 volunteers -- ranging from high school students to retired people -- the group is also backed by 650 individuals who signed petitions supporting the group during its May and July book sales.

"This is a true community event," Ellen Wyman said of the sales, noting that local corporations also donate books to be sold.

New teachers in local schools often attend the sales to help build their classroom libraries, she added.

The group has been working with city staff to find a new space, but so far without success.

"Cubberley is an option," said Paul Thiltgen, Palo Alto's director of community services.

Part of that depends upon completion of a report due this week on building and fire code requirements at that site. "The staff is still trying to work on finding space" for the group, he added.

The Friends of the Palo Alto Library has been using classroom space at Terman for the last five years, but has been told by the Palo Alto Unified School District it will have to vacate the space by September, when remodeling efforts begin to convert the site to a middle school.

"We don't seem to be much closer to finding a solution and are reaching a crisis," said Tom Wyman, another member of the group.

The group started out as a way to sell older books from the Palo Alto libraries, but only a small part of the books sold now come from that source.

Most come from residents who find it is better to donate books they don't want instead of throwing them away. Local businesses also donate books.

Tom Wyman said Hewlett-Packard Co. recently donated 50 boxes of books.

Weekly editor Jay Thorwaldson contributed to this story. E-mail Don Kazak at dkazak@paweekly.com