Friends of the Galena Public Library

09/06/2026

What are you reading today on National Book Day?

I’m reading the third book in Tana French’s Cal Hooper series: The Keeper. I’ve enjoyed the first two books in the series and this one is a winner so far.

08/23/2026

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My book challenge book for August was The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskens. It was recommended to me by one of my high school orchestra musician friends, Alice Dampman Humel. So, yes, we knew each other a long time ago.

The book is the story of Hana who is a middle-aged librarian in Minnesota. But after the murder of her best friend, we learn that Hana is not really Hana but instead is Nura, a refugee from the Bosnian/Serbian War, and she was anything but a quiet librarian when she lived in Bosnia. Going from her youth to her life in Minnesota, we learn how Nura/Hana came to live in Minnesota and the secrets she has had to keep throughout her years in the U.S.

I especially liked this book because I spent a couple days in Bosnia when it was still Yugoslavia, and I was on tour with a youth orchestra. The people I met there were warm and friendly, so I was saddened as the war progressed. The book gave me even more insights into the politics and cultural ideologies that went behind the war.

The story and the characters in The Quiet Librarian were engaging and got my attention right from the beginning. This is a book that I would recommend to all. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

07/28/2026

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My book challenge book for July was Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor, and it was recommended to me by a long time friend (since junior high school) David W Chandler.

In the winter of 1847, the “ocean liner”

Star of the Sea left famine-ridden Ireland for New York City carrying people of all classes and wealth, some of whom are escaping problems, and others who are just for a new life in America. This book is the story of the voyage, but more so about the passengers aboard the ship. Through the captain’s log, we learn the backstories of a small group of passengers who are all tied together through their lives in Ireland, some wealthy peers of the British Empire, some servants of wealthy families who have lost their homes and health due to the potato famine, and others criminals who are escaping the law. The backstories are like mini-novellas during which we learn how the characters are tied together and what led them to be on the ship taking them away from their homes.

In addition to the stories of specific characters, the captain’s log includes the navigational information, the weather of the day, and information about the passengers in general whether they be traveling First Class or below decks in steerage. During the 27 day voyage we learn of the deaths of passengers due to starvation, disease and crime. In reading these stories, I became even more grateful that I was born at the time I was, as I was saddened so many times reading about the challenging lives people left at home as well as the horrible conditions they suffered during the voyage.

The author clearly did a tremendous amount of research into the history and sociology of the times (mid-1840’s) and the detail in the book reflects all the research. And he shows a clear understanding of human nature that is demonstrated as he brings all the characters to life.

This book will interest you if you want to know more about the beginnings and impacts of the Irish potato famine, as well as how people of all classes in Ireland reacted to them both on land and on sea. This is one book I can see myself reading a 2nd time.

07/20/2026

The Friends of the Galena Library would like to thank everyone who attended our book sale over the past 4 days. We loved seeing the books that you chose, talking about books with you, and getting to know you. Without shoppers we would not be able to raise the money to support special programs for the library.

And a personal thank you from me to the dozens of volunteers who make the sale possible: the schleppers, weeders, sorters, and all the volunteers the days of the sale. Special thanks to the Galena Pirates who hauled books for us the day before the sale.

And a special thanks to the Galena Food Pantry who let us use a room to organize and store our books prior to the sale. Their generosity is greatly appreciated.

There is an expression that says “it takes a village “ and this is especially true for Galena and all the residents who help make our sale a success.

07/18/2026

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Book Sale- Saturday Sale!

Bring your bag, fill it with books and pay us $5.00. Yes, you read that correctly: $5.00 for a bag of books.

Doors open at 9 AM and close at 1 PM.

Irish Cottage on Route 20. Park behind the hotel and enter through the back doors.

07/15/2026

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BOOK SALE INFORMATION

Location:

Irish Cottage Inn and Suites

Parking behind the hotel- there will be signs directing you. This will leave their from parking lot for their guests and pub guests (pub highly recommended for dinner after you shop. It opens at 4 PM each day except Saturday when it opens at noon)

Wednesday: Sale for Friends of the Galena Library 4-7 PM. You will be asked to check in before you enter the sale. If you are not a member, you can join tonight ($10 for an individual membership which is good until 6/30/2027).

Thursday and and Friday 9 AM-6 PM

Saturday: 9 AM-1 PM
Owners of Little Free Libraries may shop
for free on Saturday- please bring a picture of your library with you.

IN ADDITION TO BOOKS:

Our bake sale will go from Wednesday night until sold out

50/50 Raffle: $1 /ticket or 6 tickets for $5. Last year’s winner won several hundred dollars!

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

07/14/2026

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BOOK SALE WEEK

Book delivery day:

Thanks to the Pirates football team for hauling all the boxes of books from the Food Pantry to the Irish Cottage.

And thanks to all the volunteers who are organizing the books so you can easily find the books you are looking for.

07/11/2026

07/10/2026

2 out of 3 is pretty good:

Book sale

Bake sale

But we don’t have any pets to rescue- but we have books about pets!

Join us:

Friends of the Galena Library book/bake sale

Irish Cottage Inn and Suites

Wednesday, July 15. 4-7 PM for Friends of the Library (you can and join and shop that night)

Thursday and Friday, July 16 and 17. 9 AM-6 PM

Saturday, July 18. 9 AM- 1 PM

We have pre-read books, brand new books, several first edition books, and puzzles

Baked goods until they are all gone

Bring your own shopping bag and get 1 book free.

07/08/2026

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A sampling of the beautiful bookmarks that we’ll be selling at this year’s Book Sale. Something for every taste and each individually packed in clear plastic to keep them safe.