GREENFIELD — The Friends of the Hancock County Public Library is preparing to set a record with its upcoming bargain book sale.
The Friends will play host to the sale at the library’s Greenfield location from today through Monday, selling gently used books and other media as well as larger items that have been donated, such as artwork and gaming systems. Contributions come from monthly donation days, as well as materials the library no longer needs.
The organization’s president, Bob Buenger, said this will be the Friends’ largest-ever sale, with 225 boxes of books, or 6,000 to 7,000 volumes, available for purchase. That will surpass a record set earlier this year.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryBuenger said the Friends group hopes to match that with record-breaking proceeds, as well. Funds raised from the sale will be donated to the Hancock County Public Library to fund library programming, such as free concerts and special children’s events.
In 2018, the Friends contributed $18,000 toward library programming. The group also contributed to the HCPL Imagination Library, Little Free Libraries and the Hancock County Literacy Coalition.
Buenger said the library’s programming provides valuable opportunities for Hancock County residents to attend concerts or learn about important topics, free of charge.
“It offers anyone the chance to be exposed to music and culture,” Buenger said.
A look at the library’s calendar for August reveals the breadth of programming that is available. From Legos to yoga to a concert by the popular ‘90s band The Why Store, activities are scheduled almost every day. On many days, multiple events are slated.
HCPL communications manager Kitty Smock said funds provided by the Friends are important in helping the library thrive.
“It makes the library more fun to go to, and it keeps the library in the front of people’s attention so that while they’re here they’ll come and check out books and see what we have,” Smock said. “We’re so grateful to the Friends for doing that for us.”
The Friends of the Library raises approximately half of its funds through the quarterly sales, and the other half through a “store” inside the Greenfield library that sells used books during all open hours.
Kyle Turpin, who manages adult programming for the library, said the Friends’ donations have helped the library expand its concert offerings over the past year, providing more opportunities to enjoy music in a family-friendly, alcohol-free space.
“We wouldn’t be able to have as much entertainment as we do without their support,” Turpin said.
Turpin said it is hard to track whether the programming encourages more people to use the library, since it doesn’t track most information on its patrons’ library usage. He said, however, that the programs definitely bring new people into library buildings.
“It exposes people to the library who otherwise wouldn’t have even come into our doors,” Turpin said.
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Members of the Friends organization will have access to an exclusive preview sale from 6-8:30 p.m. today. Walk-ins can join the organization and shop at the preview sale for a cost of $15; sign-up forms are also available at the library.
The sale will be open to the public 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23; 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24; and 1-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25. Most hardbacks cost only a dollar, and paperbacks cost 50 cents. Children’s books are 50 cents or 25 cents. DVDs, CDs and audio books are $1.
Bargain day is 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26. A standard paper grocery bag full of books sells for $3; a plastic grocery bag will go for $2.
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