Library to hold book sale
By Barbara Arntsen
Published in News on September 28, 2004 2:01 PM
Books will be plentiful this weekend at the library's annual book sale, but volunteers are needed.
Jane Rustin, director of the Wayne County Library, said that the Gertrude Weil Auditorium will be crammed full of books for sale and that there is usually a good crowd of people coming to buy the books.
"But we could use volunteers to help," she said.
The book sale is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday, with a special preview sale for Friends of the Library on Friday.
"If someone wants to become a Friend, they can come on Friday evening and sign up," Ms. Rustin said. "Memberships only cost $5."
The bulk of the books are donated to the library and cover a variety of different interests.
Old books, specialty books and some rare books find their way into the sale, but you won't find books there in poor condition. Those are weeded out by staff members.
Ms. Rustin said she liked to think of the sale as a way of "recycling books."
"Last year one of the charter schools came and bought books to start their library," she said. "And the Boys & Girls Club comes to buy books."
By Sunday, the third day of the sale, the selection of books will have narrowed. "It's first come, best served," said Ms. Rustin. "On Sunday, we let the books go for less."
The library tries to do everything it can not to have to throw any books away, though sometimes there are a few books that just can't be sold.
Last year the staff put the leftover books in boxes by the dumpsters, and let people rummage through them, selecting what they wanted for free.
Soon the books were gone.
Ginny Herrett, chairman of the book sale, said all sorts of things could be found in the books.
"Sometimes there are old letters, postcards, family pictures, and even money," she said.
The preview sale begins Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for Friends of the Library. Saturday the sale begins at 8 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m. On Sunday the sale is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Proceeds from the sale are used to enhance the programs and buy books for the Wayne County libraries.
For more information about the sale or to volunteer to help, call Ms. Herrett at 735-4852.