Pick up a bag of books for $5 at Falls Library this weekend

This Saturday, the Falls of Schuylkill Library will host its Autumn Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Patrons can take as many books that will fit into a standard shopping bag for $5, which the president, Linda Koons, said can be a really good deal.

“You can get like 20 or so books in these bags,” said Koons. “If they are paperbacks, you can probably get more.” 

In addition to books, attendees can choose from thousands of audiovisual materials that include DVDs, CDs, tapes, specially-priced vintage items and children’s material. All of the items are newly donated items from members of the community.

The proceeds from the book sale will help the library purchase new materials, support programming and pay for necessary repairs.

Wendy Moody, a retired librarian, said the book sale is so much more than a fundraiser.

“It’s to raise money, but it’s also to make the library an inclusive place for everybody and it often brings in new members for the library and the friends group,” said Moody.

The sale also calls for several volunteers who assist with dividing the books into categories. One volunteer also helps with the pricing and selling of the “vintage” collection.

Moody said the interesting thing about the sale is that many people who volunteer are also the same people who donate and buy the books during the sale.

Last year, the library raised between $1,500 and $2,000.

If there are leftover items after the sale, the material is donated to schools, nursing and retirement homes and Books Behind Bars, an on-going book drive for prisoners. Some of it is also given away to the public.