Friends of the Library Book Sale Saturday – Up to their ears in books

Submitted by

Annie Sparle, Friends of the Library volunteer
Annie Sparkle, Friends of the Library volunteer

Susan Hardee Steger

Annie Sparkle, Friends of the Library book sorter has her hands full.  Thousands and thousands of donated books are sorted throughout the year by Annie and some forty volunteers who donate countless hours to the project.  Without the sorters’ help and Annie’s leadership the book sale could not take place.

DSC00649
A specially priced reading primer

Rows, and rows of carefully sorted and categorized  books, tapes, DVD’s, fill what was once the Peck High School gym.   It is a fun event! Shoppers browse. Some of them appear with their reading list, and some with large bags to carry their selections home.  With prices ranging from fifty cents to two dollars, there are plenty of bargains.

Melinda Dennel looks forward to the twice yearly event.  She brings a roll cart and when finished shopping, the cart is filled to the brim.  Dennel is a voracious reader! “I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. I just read books,” says Dennel.

One categorized area is the “specially priced” books that contains a first grade reader familiar to those of us who grew up in the 50’s. The book, a reading primer is priced at $15, higher than most books on sale, because the number of books in circulation are dropping.  For those of you who need your memories refreshed, the stories involve Dick, Jane, Sally, and Spot.DSC00653

DSC00655
Hard hats on display in preparation of the groundbreaking for the expanded Fernandina Beach branch library

Approximately 20,000 used books are available for purchase through the Friends of the Library book sale. Proceeds from the spring and fall book sales are the primary source of funds the FOL donates to the Nassau County Library System each year. In the past two years alone, the FOL has donated more than $50,000 to purchase materials for the Fernandina Beach Library branch.

The sale is open to the public on Friday, March 22, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Saturday, March 23, 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m., with special sales early Saturday afternoon. The Peck Center Gym is located at 516 South 10th Street in Fernandina Beach.

Editor’s Note: Friends of the Fernandina Beach Library is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation consisting of local citizens whose mission is to promote literacy and life-long learning and to advocate and raise funds for the library for the benefit of the community.  For inquiries contact:  Wilma Allen, Publicity Chair 491-0034.

March 22, 2013 5:00 p.m.