By Carol Van Why

The finalists for the 2019 Minnesota Book Awards were announced in late January.  The awards ceremony will be held April 6, 2019, in St. Paul. Patricia Hampl’s 2018 book, The Art of the Wasted Day, is one of the nominees.  I’m happy to say that it is in the Coffman Library’s collection.  Look for it under Hampl in the Biography section.  Our library also owns her 2005 book, Virgin Time: In Search of the Contemplative Life; look for it on the Religion/Spirituality section.

Coordinated by the Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and supported by many individuals and organizations, “The Minnesota Book Awards is a year-long program that fosters our statewide literary arts community and connects readers and writers throughout Minnesota.”  Learn more​ about this effort.

By Carol Van Why, as originally published in the March 2019 issue of the 1666 Coffman Newsletter

Did you know that the Coffman library loaned over 900 books in 2018? You may be surprised to know that most of the credit for the library’s vitality actually goes to you, our generous residents.

Your book donations are the lifeblood of the collection. We welcome donations of books, large print books, audiobooks, and DVDs.

You can always donate one or two items at a time. Our cardboard donations box is on the library’s lower level in the closet just to the left of the entrance. You must limit donations left there to no more than one shopping bag.

Have more to donate than the suggested limit? Or are you considering offering a significant portion of your personal library? If so, contact either Katie Weiblen or Catherine Wengler beforehand. They will suggest visiting you so they can identify items in your collection that our library could use.

We cannot use books with broken spines; yellowing or loose pages; a musty smell; significant wear, stains, highlighting or underlining that will detract from the item’s appeal to readers. We also cannot accept books that are obviously dated, particularly in areas of business, economics, medicine, science, and technology where books five years or older have limited value.

If we can’t use your donations the organizations shown below accept used books: Half-Price Books, Books for Africa, Ramsey County Library – Roseville, St. Paul Public Library – St. Anthony Park, and Goodwill – Roseville.