FRONT ROYAL — Looking for a great book — or 10 — at a bargain price? Look no further than Friends of Samuels Library’s Giant Annual Book and Bake Sale, set to begin Thursday at the library on Criser Road.
“We fill up tables with thousands and thousands and thousands of books. We have books, CDs, DVDs and a hodgepodge of yard sale type items that have been donated,” said Sydney Patton, vice president of Friends of Samuels Library (FOSL).
She noted that there are two components to the sale — FOSL’s annual membership drive and the book sale itself. FOSL members have early access to the sale on Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m., she said. The sale is open to the general public Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
On Monday, Sept. 30, remaining items are available under a “name your own price” bargain.
“People can come in, take as much as you want, and name your price. We want to box up as little as possible,” Patton said, adding that whatever is left over after the sale will go to Booksavers of Virginia in Harrisonburg.
Patton said that items in the book sale come primarily from donations.
“We can only carry so many books in the Epilogue [the used bookstore located within Samuels], so when we receive duplicates, particularly of bestsellers like Stephen King or Nora Roberts or whatever it may be, we put them away and bring them out for the book sale,” she said.
Last year, the sale raised $5,700, money that the FOSL uses to support the library through a variety of projects and programs. Patton said this year’s goal is to raise more than $6,000.
Jessica Priest-Cahill, also a FOSL board member, helps to run the sale, Patton said, adding that volunteers are needed. Set up begins Wednesday, she said, noting that a local homeschool group has been a “fantastic” help for years.
“Volunteers get first dibs on good stuff,” she said.
Along with the book sale, the event includes a bake sale with proceeds this year going to benefit the Strasburg Community Library. That library and its bookstore suffered significant damage in August due to heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby.
“We’ll give them a little love, and everybody gets some delicious baked goods,” said Patton. “With books and muffins, you can’t go wrong.”
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