Story and photos provided by Stillwater Public Library
The Stillwater Public Friends of the Library spring book sale takes place April 20-23 and includes thousands of books, DVDs and audios priced at just 25 cents to $1. The semi-annual sale raises money for the library to purchase books and equipment and to fund programming and online services for all ages.
Books on every subject, in all genres and for all reading levels will be available to purchase tax-free, including a large array of children’s items for 25 cents each.
According to library director, Lynda Reynolds, the total number of available items exceeds 20,000.
“The Friends of the Library, who sort the books and organize the sale, has received more book donations this season than ever before. The Friends members hand select the most popular and interesting titles, so every item should end up being a treasure to someone shopping the sale.
“We rely on book donations from our local readers for the sale, and our community has been very generous with it used books. Be ready for a stellar sale.”
Reynolds says proceeds from the sale will be especially beneficial this year.
“The library has dealt with a significant budget cut, so sale proceeds are more important than ever.”
Reynolds is challenging community members to close their laptops, put down their tablets and look to the library’s sale for reading material, rather than using online sites like Amazon.
“We understand the temptation to click a button and have a book show up on your doorstep,” said Reynolds, “But when you buy at the booksale, you are supporting the opportunity to read and learn for your entire community.”
Reynolds adds that readers can still get a book with just one click of a button by using the library’s online eBooks, a service that is heavily benefited by booksale proceeds.
“Over the last several years, the Friends of the Library has contributed thousands and thousands of dollars for the purchase of our digital materials.”
The sale begins with a “Members Only Preview” on Thursday, April 20, from 5-8 p.m. Friends of the Library membership is open to everyone and will be available at the door. Memberships are $10 per year for individuals or families, and those purchased at the April sale will be good for the fall sale, as well. Buyers at the preview sale are limited to 100 books, including 50 children’s items.
The sale opens to the general public on Friday, April 21, from noon to 8 p.m. and continues Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Bag Sale follows on Sunday from 1:30-4 p.m., when shoppers can fill an entire bag with books of the buyer’s choosing for just $1. Bags will be provided and the number of bags purchased is not limited.
For easy browsing, books are sorted into categories, including Children’s material, Mysteries, Biographies, Local History, Education & Curriculum and Sci-Fi.
The booksale is a part of Stillwater’s “Legends Week,” which includes activities taking place across the community April 14-23, including several sporting events, the Downtown Arts Festivals, Town & Gown’s production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and many other activities for people of all ages. See the full list of “Legends” events at https://www.visitstillwater.org/legends.
For more information about the sale or donating material, call (405) 372-3633, visit the web site at http://library.stillwater.org or e-mail askalibrarian@stillwater.org.