Book Sale Pop Up!

Be sure to stop by the Yalda Festival on December 7th from
3 to 5 pm for our next Pop Up Book Sale.
We will feature giftable items including a selection of seasonal and children's books.

Donation Diary

In a donation box of mildewed history books sat a slim book of poetry for children. The title Night and the Cat was unfamiliar, the book lacked a dust jacket, and the cover was badly stained. But since the author, Elizabeth Coatsworth, had won the Newberry medal in 1931 it seemed wise to do a little research.

Night and the Cat was published in 1950 with illustrations by a Japanese artist, Tsuguharu Foujita. Born in 1886, Foujita studied Western art in Japan and moved to Paris in 1913, where his East meets West eclectic style found commercial success. In 1933 he returned to Japan where he dedicated himself to creating art in support of the war effort.

Encountering public criticism for his war efforts in both Japan and France, Foujita was able to get a visa to the United States in 1949. He lived in Brooklyn for just one year, where he taught at the Brooklyn Museum Art School and illustrated Elizabeth Coatsworth’s collection of poems, Night and the Cat.

Foujita is now recognized as an important artist, famous for his drawings of women and cats. It turns out that Night and the Cat is a collectors item. Our little book was stained on the outside but inside the charming illustrations were pristine. We sold the book for $200 to a collector in Japan.
The first rule in our sorting room is “Open every book.” You never know what you will find inside!

- - Mary Colombi

Book Donation Information

Your book donations help to finance Oakton Library's programs and FCPL's collections as a whole. When donating used books please note:

donations should be in good to excellent condition
there is a limit of 3 grocery sized bags or small boxes per donation
all donations should be left on the green cart to the left just beyond the OK lobby

We appreciate your support of literacy with your generous donations.

We take:
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Puzzles
Vintage, Children’s, Teen, Tween
CDs, DVDs, Audio Books
Recent (7 years or newer) college and graduate school textbooks

We cannot use:
VHS or cassette tapes, magazines
Dated (older than 7 years) self-help, medical, computer, travel or business
Encyclopedia sets
Damaged, soiled, stained, discolored, having odors, mildew or excessive highlighting or writing

Your Donations May Be:
Added to the FCPL Collection
Sold in Friends’ book sales
Given to literacy charities

Given to other Friends of the Library

Email us if you have a large collection or questions at
friendsofoaktonlibrary@gmail.com www.friendsofoaktonlibrary.org

THANK YOU!

The Friends of Oakton Library