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| By Michelle Kealey Staff Writer WEST SPRINGFIELD On June 3 and 4, the Friends of the West Springfield Public Library will be selling thousands of books during their semi-annual book sale designed to help support the library and its programs. The Friends have conducted a book sale fund-raiser for about 15 years and switched to two book sales a year about five years ago. Now, they manage a book sale in the fall and the spring. Hank Tessier, a Friends volunteer, said that the group decided to switch to two book sales because of the number of books that were being donated. "We have so many good books available, we might as well take advantage of the opportunity to sell them to the public and make money for the Friends and the library," he said. The Friends have a bin at the library where members of the community can donate books year round. When the bin is full, Tessier said members of the community leave their donations next to the bin in boxes. He said the number of books people drop off to donate is "unbelievable." Tessier explained that he and other volunteers from the Friends visit the library often to bring the books from the donation bin to the basement of the library where they sort the books into different categories. He added that the volunteers decide which books are worth keeping for the sale. He said the group keeps the better quality books for the semi-annual sale and may sell some of the remaining books during the ongoing book sale that occurs at the library year round. In addition, Tessier said the Friends may donate some books to the library or to local schools. Tessier and other volunteers have been placing the books into bags to prepare for the sale. He has prepared about 250 bags thus far. When it comes time to bring the bagged books from the basement where they are stored to the children's area of the library, where the sale takes place, Tessier said local Boy Scout Troops 83 and 570 offer their help. Once the books are brought upstairs, more volunteers will sort them into different categories for the sale. Tessier advises the general public to stay away from the book sale on opening morning as many book dealers attend the sale at that time. "It is not a good idea to come at 9 a.m. on the first day," he said. "It is so mobbed, you can't get to the tables." He said that members of the community will not miss out on the good books if they wait until the dealers finish. He explained that the volunteers are constantly replenishing the stock. "For two days, there are always good books available no matter what time you go," he said, adding that only 2,000 or 3,000 can be put out at once. The prices of the books for sale vary. Generally, Tessier said that paperback books are 25 cents and hardcover books are priced at 50 cents. However, he said that 40 percent of the hardcover books in great condition can be marked up to $2-$5. "Some look like new," he said. He added that some are in such good shape that people could give them as Christmas presents. In addition to categories such as fiction, non-fiction, cooking, and children's, Tessier said that there will be a table with about a dozen rare books that will be sold at a greater value. He also said that there will be a table with graphic novels, which he said are "much in demand" and sold out quickly during the last sale. Marie Tessier, a Friends volunteer, said that the book sale "has a life of its own." She said that since its beginning 15 years ago, the sale has "really turned into a monster" event. She said the Friends collect books year round for the sale because it is easier than collecting books just before the sale. She added that people always know that they can donate their books. She also said that one year, there were up to 50 people waiting in line before the sale opened and that several hundred people will shop the sale over the two-day period. Since the Friends formed and the book sale took place 15 years ago, she said that the organization has raised about $100,000 for the library. Other fund-raisers, such as bus trips, a book bag sale and membership dues also help the Friends support the library. All of the funds raised by the Friends go toward items such as computer software, library equipment, furniture and anything else the library needs. The book sale will take place in the Children's area of the library from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. on June 3 and 4. In addition to the books sale, Liz Sokel, Friends president, said that she hopes to begin a fund-raiser that will help the Friends pay for the beautification of the exterior of the library. She explained that the library will be 90 years old next year, and she would like the Friends to be able to pay for landscaping. She estimated that the cost would be about $1,000. |