There was a line-up on Friday night, waiting for the doors to the BWG Public Library to open at 7 p.m.
These were hard-core book lovers of all ages, ready and willing to pay $10 per family, or $5 for a single person, to get first choice of the thousands of paperback and hardcover books, CDs and DVDs, videogames, Young Adult fiction, children’s books, and even jigsaw puzzles at the Friends of the BWG Public Library February Book Sale.
They came out to browse the tables filled with books, sorted by category – adult fiction, non-fiction, self-help, literature, travel books, biographies.
Most items were priced at only $1 apiece, children’s books four for $1, but there were a number of ‘coffee table’ and art books individually priced – still all under $10.
There was even a free table, piled with slightly out-of-date tomes – like a 2000 Millennium Guinness Book of World Records, and a complete multi-volume set of Scott’s stamp catalogue from 2012.
“We’ve never had so many books!” said volunteer Jean Calder.
Many were culls from the library itself, she said - volumes that were duplicates or no longer needed, but others were donations from the community, from people "doing the Marie Kondo," and downsizing their libraries.
Friends of the Library volunteers were on hand, keeping the tables stocked, answering questions, and manning the cash, as shoppers filled bags and carts with their finds. All of the money raised goes toward projects and programming at the library
Despite brisk sales, at the end of two hours there were still thousands of volumes left. The Friends of the Library Book Sale continues on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 23 from 1 to 3:30 p.m., when admission is free!
The BWG Library is located at 425 Holland St. West in Bradford.
