News
Alameda Free Library Director Jane Chisaki will be retiring at the end of June. Jane began her professional career at the San Francisco Public Library. In 1984, she accepted a job as a children’s librarian at the Alameda Free Library. Through successive positions, she was appointed library director in
Community Events
On March 22nd, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library hosted a webinar featuring the author Debbie Chinn. Debbie Chinn has had a remarkable career in the lively arts, but her family’s history as immigrants from China is just as remarkable. Debbie is the executive director of TheatreWorks Silicon
Art Docent
On March 8th, the Friends were joined by art docent Susan Light for a presentation on a prior major exhibition exploring the role of Jewish architects and designers in the creation of a distinctly modern American landscape. Their work encompassed the full range of the domestic environment - from the
News
With thanks to our supporters and music lovers, our first Live @ the Library concert was a remarkable success. The sold-out concert featured the outstanding jazz singer Jackie Ryan accompanied by the incredible jazz pianist Tamir Hendelman performing music about Love. The audience was captivated by the artistry of the pair
Community Events
On February 15th, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library hosted a webinar featuring the author Mary-Alice Daniel, who discussed her first book of prose, A Coastline is an Immeasurable Thing: A Memoir Across Three Continents. Click on the video below to watch this wonderful talk!
Friends
Welcome, Serena! The FAL Board welcomes Serena Hom to the Board of Directors. Serena is a native of Alameda who grew up using Alameda Free Library. She and her family settled here and she became an active volunteer with the Friends last year. Serena became an integral part of Books
News
I have a 40 year professional career as a librarian and I am appalled at the constraints placed on school librarians. Librarians face intense pressure from school boards and communities seeking to ban books exploring racial and LGBTQ themes. A few of the restrictions on librarians with masters degrees include
Community Events
On January 25th, the Friends were joined by Daniel A. Olivas author of eleven books and editor of two anthologies. How to Date a Flying Mexican is a collection of stories derived from Chicano and Mexican culture but ranging through fascinating literary worlds including fairy tales, fables, and dystopian futures.
Art Docent
On January 18th, the Friends were joined by art docent Avril Angevine for a presentation on California Pop artists who followed styles that originated in Europe or New York, but they put their own stamp on them—sometimes a bit more irreverent, sometimes more down to earth, but always full
Friends
Welcome, Renesha and Katherine! The FAL Board welcomes Renesha Robinson-Palmer to the Board of Directors. Renesha has been working on Friends @ Home events and will also be managing the Friends website. We also welcome Katherine Adcox to the Board of Directors. Katherine has been working on Friends @ Home events this
FAL Happenings
Books For Friends Open Thursday - Saturday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Books for Friends (BFF) continues to grow its customer base as more and more people discover this gem in the Main Library across from Dewey's Cafe. We want to expand hours of operation in
Community Events
On December 5th, the Friends of the Alameda Free Library hosted a webinar featuring multiple award winning author Lori Rader-Day, who discussed her Agatha-winning Death At Greenway, a captivating suspense novel about nurses during World War II who come to Agatha Christie’s holiday estate to care for evacuated children.