Readers across Alamance County are filling up the basement of May Memorial Library in Burlington as the Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries host their spring book sale. The sale began on March 6 and runs through March 15, selling books, DVDs, CDs and vinyl records. Volunteer Beth Cooley said the energy is different in the first few days of the sale.
“It's busier. I think you do get some of your real diehard regulars who are here really excited about the sale, because they can find great books every year,” Cooley said. “People do like to get here early in the sale to get the good selections.”
The book sale is put on by the Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries, a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for local libraries. It hosts a book sale every fall and spring. The books are from donations from community members, who drop off books at any of the four Alamance County libraries.
“We get some real treasures,” Cooley said. “People donate some really great books, some antique books, but also really current fiction, in particular. I think it's a good community builder.”
Cooley said the proceeds of the sale go to support all four public libraries in Alamance County and help fund programming like summer reading groups and craft projects for kids.
Books are separated into many different categories, and Cooley said they have a wide variety of books, including novels, cookbooks, geography and religion books. Paperbacks cost $2, hardbacks are $3 each and children’s books are $1. On March 14, there will be a special sale where customers can purchase a book bag for $15 dollars and can fill it up with books. Cooley said that day always brings lots of community members.
Gwen Norwood, who has been coming to the sale for over 10 years, said she comes because of the great prices. She said she has a list of books that she looks for when she comes to the sale.
“I try to keep a list of books that I'm always on the lookout for based on recommendations or seeing them in newsletters,” Norwood said.
Norwood said she enjoys coming because of how much she enjoys reading, as it is something that you can do at anytime.
“You can take your book with you anywhere you go,” Norwood said. “It's always interesting to read about some situation that you may never be exposed to otherwise. Reading historical fiction gives you a glimpse into the history of the past.
Cooley said she works a variety of jobs at the book sale, including the cash register and shelving books. She said she enjoys shelving books because she finds books that she likes and she is able to buy them herself.
Cooley said the turnout illustrates how popular reading still is. She also said that holding an actual book provides an experience that a Kindle or other forms of electronic reading can’t.
“I’ve always loved reading, and I think there's a quiet space that you can get from reading that you can't get from other forms of media,” Cooley said. “That's appealing to people.”
To see the book sale’s hours, visit the Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries’ website.