Gainesville Florida Friends of the Library to have one of two HUGE book sales
By KYLE DEARDORFF
Special to The Sun
Published: Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 17, 2008 at 12:58 a.m.
The Friends of the Library has collected more than 300,000 items — the most ever — for its fall semi-annual book sale, which kicks off Saturday morning.
The five-day event will take place at 430 N. Main St. in downtown Gainesville and last until Wednesday.
Collectors from afar and thousands of casual readers flock to the two sales — there is also one each spring — every year. Some come as early as three days ahead of time to stake out their place in line. The night before the sale begins, some buyers will sleep in tents in the parking lot.
"People hang out all night to be the first in line," said Billie Staff, a volunteer and co-chairwoman of the book sale.
Early birds at this sale will be in for a special treat. On Saturday from 8:30 to 9 a.m., a bagpiper will be on hand playing music for early shoppers, Staff said.
One of the major attractions of the Friends of the Library sales is a special section called the Collector's Corner.
In this area, buyers can browse an array of unusual, higher-priced items such as first edition books, signed books, paintings and a large selection of Florida-related materials, said volunteer Jim Dahlman.
This year's Collector's Corner will offer a first printing of "Requiem for a Nun" by William Faulkner, "Georgia O'Keeffe: A Portrait" by Alfred Stieglitz, University of Florida yearbooks from the 1940s through 1990s and much more, Dahlman said.
The Friends of the Library is a volunteer-based group that exists to help the Alachua County Library District with its programs. Friends of the Library has close to 100 workers year-round and welcomes volunteers.
The Friends of the Library has been putting on book sales every year for more than 50 years, Staff said. About 20 years ago, due to increased popularity, it began running two sales per year, one in the spring and one the fall.
Donations are accepted and sorted year-round to prepare for the sales. However, two weeks before each book sale, it asks that all donations be held until after the sale.
According to Staff, books and other pieces generally range in price from 25 cents to $4. However, some items do cost more.
For the first three days of the sale, all items sell at their regularly marked prices. In order to ensure that as many items as possible are sold, on the second-to-last day of the sale, every item will be sold at half off. All remaining items will be available for 10 cents on the last day.
Last year, the Friends of the Library earned more than $285,000 in sales. This year's spring sale brought in more than $146,000.
The organization is looking to make at least $135,000 at this sale, but is hoping for closer to $150,000, Staff said.
According to Staff, profits earned from the book sales are put right back into the community. The money helps to provide funding for Alachua County Library District programs and also goes toward scholarships and mini-grants.
"The only money we keep is what it takes to put on the sale and run the building," she said.
For more information about the Friends of the Library book sales, including a list of items at Collector's Corner, go online to http://www.folacld.org/index.html. For volunteer opportunities, call 375-1676.
Special to The Sun
Published: Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, October 17, 2008 at 12:58 a.m.
The Friends of the Library has collected more than 300,000 items — the most ever — for its fall semi-annual book sale, which kicks off Saturday morning.
The five-day event will take place at 430 N. Main St. in downtown Gainesville and last until Wednesday.
Collectors from afar and thousands of casual readers flock to the two sales — there is also one each spring — every year. Some come as early as three days ahead of time to stake out their place in line. The night before the sale begins, some buyers will sleep in tents in the parking lot.
"People hang out all night to be the first in line," said Billie Staff, a volunteer and co-chairwoman of the book sale.
Early birds at this sale will be in for a special treat. On Saturday from 8:30 to 9 a.m., a bagpiper will be on hand playing music for early shoppers, Staff said.
One of the major attractions of the Friends of the Library sales is a special section called the Collector's Corner.
In this area, buyers can browse an array of unusual, higher-priced items such as first edition books, signed books, paintings and a large selection of Florida-related materials, said volunteer Jim Dahlman.
This year's Collector's Corner will offer a first printing of "Requiem for a Nun" by William Faulkner, "Georgia O'Keeffe: A Portrait" by Alfred Stieglitz, University of Florida yearbooks from the 1940s through 1990s and much more, Dahlman said.
The Friends of the Library is a volunteer-based group that exists to help the Alachua County Library District with its programs. Friends of the Library has close to 100 workers year-round and welcomes volunteers.
The Friends of the Library has been putting on book sales every year for more than 50 years, Staff said. About 20 years ago, due to increased popularity, it began running two sales per year, one in the spring and one the fall.
Donations are accepted and sorted year-round to prepare for the sales. However, two weeks before each book sale, it asks that all donations be held until after the sale.
According to Staff, books and other pieces generally range in price from 25 cents to $4. However, some items do cost more.
For the first three days of the sale, all items sell at their regularly marked prices. In order to ensure that as many items as possible are sold, on the second-to-last day of the sale, every item will be sold at half off. All remaining items will be available for 10 cents on the last day.
Last year, the Friends of the Library earned more than $285,000 in sales. This year's spring sale brought in more than $146,000.
The organization is looking to make at least $135,000 at this sale, but is hoping for closer to $150,000, Staff said.
According to Staff, profits earned from the book sales are put right back into the community. The money helps to provide funding for Alachua County Library District programs and also goes toward scholarships and mini-grants.
"The only money we keep is what it takes to put on the sale and run the building," she said.
For more information about the Friends of the Library book sales, including a list of items at Collector's Corner, go online to http://www.folacld.org/index.html. For volunteer opportunities, call 375-1676.
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