The Diamond Bar Friends of the Library is a non-profit, all-volunteer community service group dedicated to supporting the Diamond Bar Library, improving literacy and encouraging the love of reading. The Friends are a California registered non-profit tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.
We are a dynamic group of volunteers. We have projects and activities all year long and we welcome new members and volunteers. Please contact us to participate!
News and Events
Diamond Bar Friends of the Library
23535 Palomino Drive #232
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
For immediate release June 2021
For more information call: Kathleen Newe 909 629-2711
Look for us on Facebook under Diamond Bar Friends of the Library and Basically Books
Website: www.dblibraryfriends.org
JUNE MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT SUSAN PANTAGES
As we move into the summer months and a much “sunnier” future, may you be blessed with good health and much needed family together time. I would like to acknowledge the resilience of our organization, The Diamond Bar Friends of the Library, as we maneuvered the Covid waters to continue our work in support of the Diamond Bar Library and its literacy programs. After a very successful and first time Virtual Wine Soiree all profits will go directly to our continued financial backing with focus on our mission. Thanks to All.
Virtual Wine Soirée Event 2021—Heard It Through the Grapevine
Our first ever Virtual Wine Soirée was a tremendous success thanks to so many people who came together to support the Diamond Bar Library and literacy in our communities. It was a festive afternoon with a great wine talk from Ted Plemons from Cass Winery who brought the Paso Robles Wine Country to our living rooms. Our famous silent auction was exciting as people bid on many desirable prizes. The opportunity drawing had us holding our breaths and cheering for the winners as the virtual wheel spinning around. As always, all proceeds from the Virtual Wine Soirée will directly benefit the Diamond Bar Library.
Mark your calendars now as we plan for the REAL Wine Soirée next year on Sunday, April 10, 2022, scheduled at the Diamond Bar Center.
Congratulations to our Virtual Wine Soiree opportunity drawing winners!
1st Grand Prize: Dr. Robert Taylor
2nd Grand Prize: Marla Walker
3rd Grand Prize: Jesse Walker-Lanz
Barbara Johnson
Bonnie & Richard Kirchner
Ivan Sham
Nicholas Farha
Cynthia Salenga
L. Pacillas
Melinda Wittwer
Jessie Wick
Andrea Carroll
Ed Hilden
Elisa Hardman
Shirley Ballantyne
Katherine Le
Evan Ching
Basically BOOKS Pop-Up Book and Purse Sale
We meet so many people asking when Basically BOOKS will reopen. Although that is not possible yet, we are still planning to bring great books to you as best we can. We are happy to announce that we are planning a Pop-up Book and Purse Sale on Sunday, July 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. As we do not have our stores open currently, please look for us on July 11 at the southeast corner of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Grand Avenue in Diamond Bar (near Fitness Advantage and California Bank & Trust). Because of the generosity of many people, we have a large selection of gently used books and purses at the sale. Come and stock up for all your summer reading. We will accept cash, check and credit/debit cards ($10 minimum on debit/credit).
However, we are not currently able to accept donations due to lack of space and volunteers to process these donations. Please save them for the future or find another home for these treasured books.
If you would like to be a part of our bookstore volunteer team in the future, please email bookstore manager Mary Hackett at basicallybooks@aol.com.
FROM THE BOOK NOOK
The Diamond Bar Friends of the Library are not able to offer you books now through our two non-profit bookstores. However, our Basically BOOKS manager, Mary Hackett, is always looking for interesting books for you. Some are also collectible books that you might not find anywhere else.
Where can you find these treasures? Mary has some great books for sale at eBay. The book, Portrait of Eva Peron by Tomas de Elia and Juan Pablo Queiroz, is a fine example of these books. You will also see other books listed there. As always, all proceeds of our book sales go directly to support the Diamond Bar Library.
Go to eBay.com.
At the far right of the search field, click on the word Advanced.
Next, click on “By Seller” on the left of the screen. Check the box “Only Show Items From”, and type BasicallyBOOKS91765 in the box beside the word “include”, then hit the Search key.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU….
· Have you found a special book during your visits to Basically BOOKS?
· How long have you been going to Basically BOOKS?
· Do you belong to a book group? What are you reading in your group?
· How is that going for you during the pandemic?
· Tell us your experiences at Basically BOOKS through the last 20 years.
· From Librarian Pui Ching Ho: The Book of Space Rockets by Neil Clark: It is a wonderful picture book for young readers to discover information about space missions and the spacecraft involved, including the Mars Rover and Apollo missions. Fun, informative and engaging with colorful illustrations.
· Kathleen Newe suggests you check out While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams. Author Michael Connelly says, “While Justice Sleeps is a mesmerizing legal thriller that does the rare thing: it uses the novel to get at the truth. Stacey Abrams is a powerful new voice in fiction.” I enjoyed it very much.
· Don’t forget that if you can’t find books at the Diamond Bar Library or BasicallyBOOKS, you can order from Amazon through Amazon Smile and name Diamond Bar Friends of the Library as your charity of choice. We then get a very small percentage of each sale. Keep that in mind as you order holiday gifts.
ANNUAL GIVING PROGRAM UPDATE
By Membership/Annual Giving Chair Elaine Mickle
Your donations support the Diamond Bar Library and the services they provide during the pandemic. The Diamond Bar Library continues to be resource for our community. Although closed to onsite patrons, the library continues to provide virtual educational programs and provides curbside pickup for book loans.
The Friends have transitioned from a membership program to an annual giving program. Our new annual giving levels are as follows:
Bonsai level: $15 or under
Elderberry level: $16 – $25 donation
Cherry level: $26 – $50 donation
Willow level: $51 – $100 donation
Oak level: $101 – $250 donation
Sycamore level: $251 – $499 Sycamore donation
Cottonwood level: $500+ donation
Redwood level: $1,000+
Gingko level (meaning long life): A donation of $250 or greater qualifies the donor as a Lifetime Friend of the Library. Lifetime friends receive recognition in our annual Wine Soiree program and in our Friends of the Library display at the Diamond Bar Library.
Barbara Armstrong is our newest lifetime friend who has made an annual donation of $250.00. Thank you, Barbara! You are the first 2021 Friends of the Library Gingko level of Friend! Welcome!
Annual giving for 2021:
*Bonsai tree friends: Margie Gonzalez, Patricia Lasko
*Elderberry tree friends: Alan Camblin, Alvin Newman, Loretta Nelson
*Cherry tree friends: Janet Herrick, Marlene & Gil Yanow
*Oak tree friends: Bonnie & Richard Kirchner
*Lifetime Gingko friends: Kiran Kumar, Susan & John Pantages, Helen Lin
Through your donation, you become a Friend of the Diamond Bar Library.
Mail donations to:
Diamond Bar Friends of the Library
23535 Palomino Drive#232
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
Become a friend today and stay a friend tomorrow
Donate here: https://dblibraryfriends.org/donate/
BasicallyBOOKS is closing, but stay tuned!
Our bookstore BasicallyBOOKS closed at 23447 Golden Springs Drive effective 1/11/2021. When the COVID19 pandemic has passed, watch for us to reopen at a new location in Diamond Bar (to be announced). We look forward to again welcoming our customers at that time.