Library extends duration of regular book sale this summer

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore Municipal Library decided to extend its July book sale into August to continue the effort to provide the community with affordable literature as well as to raise funds for library programming.

“The book sale has grown over the years. I have been running it for a number of years and I think at the beginning, we were making around $700 in our book sale … but now we are running around $1,600 or $1,700,” said Laura Hendricks, assistant director of library services.

In order to operate their book sales, the library accepts donations from the community, as well as cycling in books from its own collection.

“We call them ‘Grubby Items’ which we pull off the shelves and get out of the library to clear space because we do not have room for everything,” said Hendricks. “I think we have room for 50,000 to 60,000 items, and then because we work with such an integrated library system that we can share resources with, we do not have to house everything in our collection.”

Hendricks added it is likely that the Strathmore Municipal Library will also be making a donation of literature to 5 For Life in order to aid that organization’s own book sale in January.

Financially, the Strathmore Library runs its programs as affordably as possible, and does not charge the community to participate; however, materials, staff and planning all require resources.

“We do need to be able to run the programs … so to have a little bit extra come in from the book sale just helps us throw a little bit more out there to the community,” said Hendricks. 

Whenever possible, the library also appreciates an opportunity to refresh its collection and provide titles those in the community may not have read yet. 

As an example, Hendricks referenced the library’s western section, being that some of the facility’s patrons have been through the entire collection multiple times. 

“If we can afford to get rid of some of those old ones and being some new ones in, then they are getting that; and those readers tend to want something off the shelves,” she said. “Once something becomes outdated, it is less used anyway, so we can sell those. Someone needs them … someone will buy them and we can replace that space on the shelf with what is current.”

Children’s literature is especially rapid selling during book sales, and the library is always looking for more donations of books for that demographic, so long as it has previously been well taken care of. 

For more information regarding future book sales and potentially donating to the library, information is available through the library’s website as well as in person during their office hours.