The Winslow Friends of the Library are currently preparing for their annual book sale. The sale, which takes place from Oct. 18-20, is held at the Elks Lodge, located at 315 W. Third St., and is a significant fundraiser for the group.
Friends of the Library President Michelle Pennington said, “The book sale is one of the primary ways the library raises funds each year. It brings in about $3,000.” The event is a large undertaking for the group. Pennington said, “There is a lot involved, there is sorting and storing, then setting up the sale. Not to mention collecting the books.”
She explained that the books, magazines, movies, games and more are all donated to the group. “We don’t charge very much for books. The idea of the sale has always been to get books in to the hands of readers.” The group also gives every child that attends the book sale one free book. “It’s really more about giving people access to books and reading.”
The Friends of the Library participates in a few other fundraisers throughout the year as well. For years, they have collected aluminum cans from community members. Pennington said, “The aluminum cans are a very successful fundraiser for the group. People collect their cans and then toss them over the fence at the library. They are then picked up and recycled. It brings in about $200 or $300 a month.”
There is a “Friend’s Corner” within the library where books are sold, and membership dues from the Friends of the Library make up a bulk of the groups funds. Membership dues are only $10, and anyone can be a member. “We keep it low, so more people want to participate and it is affordable for them. It’s only $1 for students to join.”
The money raised is used to supplement the needs of the public library. “A couple of years ago, we replaced some of the computers in the library and we have purchased a color printer for the staff to use,” said Pennington. She also mentioned the summer reading program that takes place each summer. “If the program has an entertainer, like a juggler or a petting zoo, the Friends pay for those.”
The Friends of the Library was developed approximately 20 years ago, according to Pennington, with the intention of helping to develop a new library. “The original idea behind the Friends was to help with anything extra that a new library would need. Things that wouldn’t be the basics, so we could upgrade the computers or put better furniture inside or whatever else they needed. But, because a new library hasn’t come to fruition, we have money to help improve the library that we have. We want to update the technology in the library, and expand the space.
Donations for the book sale are currently being accepted, as well as volunteers who would like to help with the sorting. “We will pick up any book donations that people may have and we are always looking for volunteers to help set up the sale,” said Pennington.
To donate, to join the Friends of the Library, or for more information on how you can assist, call the Winslow Public Library at (928) 289-4982.
