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Date: 10/3/2023
BELCHERTOWN — The Friends of Clapp Memorial Library will be continuing its fall book sale in October.
Friends of Clapp Memorial Library Book Sale Chair Jane Crutchfield said she has been putting together the biannual book sale for the past 30 years with the help of a couple other volunteers.
She added, “It’s a very popular book sale. Its been popular for many years. We have people that come from all over New England to shop and is a great fundraiser for the library. It’s a big activity in town and people love it.”
This year, the book sale will kick off for members only on Monday, Oct. 9, from 4-8 p.m. Memberships can be bought at the door, according to Crutchfield.
The sale will continue from Tuesday, Oct. 10, to Friday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and conclude on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday is Senior Day so if you are over 60 years old, you will receive 25% off most of the books and on Saturday everything is half price besides the already special priced books.
Soft cover books cost $1 and hard covers are $2.
There are certain books that cost 50 cents.
Crutchfield estimates that each book sale the library receives anywhere from 40,000 to 50,000 donations to display.
She added there is books for everyone to enjoy.
“I am glad I can still do it. Everybody that helps is dedicated and wants to help the library which in turn helps the community. We love getting other people to read,” Crutchfield said.
Besides books for sale, there are also puzzles, games, CDs and DVDs for people to purchase.
The book sale takes place throughout the whole library.
All the sales from the book sale help fund programs at the library.
Clapp Memorial Library Director Cyndi Harbeson said, “The Friends of the Clapp Memorial Library and their biannual book sales are the reason the library is able to fulfill our mission to serve the Belchertown community. The funds raised by the Friends support the library’s rich programs including musical events, art and craft workshops, local history presentations and our summer reading programs for kids, teens and adults.”
Last year, 9,030 people attended the 474 programs offered by the library, all of which were directly supported by the Friends.
“I am extremely grateful to the Friends for the countless volunteer hours they spend year-round working to make the book sales such a huge success. The library and the Belchertown community are greatly enriched by their dedication,” Harbeson added.
For those wondering what happens to the donated books that don’t get sold at the book sale, Crutchfield said that the Friends donate them to different places like the Hampden County Jail, a women’s only jail in Gardner, nursing homes and nonprofits.
Crutchfield added that the Friends of Clapp Memorial Library will not be taking any more donations until the beginning of next year due to upcoming construction in the library basement.