The Friends of Kent Free Library opened their fall book sale to the public at the Kent Free Library on Oct. 17, selling a variety of books, CDs and DVDs.
The library’s parking lot was full, with customers walking out carrying tote bags. Some carried armloads of books while shopping, frequently stopping to sort through their picks.
The library holds two book sales a year. They sell books donated to the library and books removed from the library’s collection to make room for other books.
Customers walked through rows of tables with cardboard boxes of items being sold, searching for the right pick.
All types of readers could find something interesting to them, as there were different sections like fiction, hobbies, history and science. There were also classroom sets, puzzles and audiobooks.
Readers Mackensie Daniel, a senior sports medicine major, and her sister, Jillian Daniel, aren’t from the area, but they came to check out the sale and look for books to read.
Jillian Daniel found a few books she was interested in reading while browsing the fiction bins. Both of them were surprised by the number of items at the sale.
“The idea is to bring a little bit more value out of [the books],” said Damen Rae, president of Friends of Kent Free Library. “We try to make it a community event. It’s an opportunity for people to build personal libraries for practically nothing.”
Adult hardback books were $1, and children’s books were 50 cents. Some books were priced higher depending on their condition.
The proceeds from the sale help the library purchase prizes for summer children’s reading programs, displays and more.
The book sale also allows the books to remain in circulation instead of being recycled. This year marked the library’s biggest sale yet.
“We have about 30,000 books. We thought it was going to be 25,000,” Rae said. “We were sort of pleasantly surprised, but it was a lot of work to fit them into the space.”
The Friends of Kent Free Library set up and sorted the books for the event. Rae hopes more people will join the Friends to help out the library.
“A lot of us are senior citizens,” Rae said. “Sometimes it’s hard to put the sale together because we need people who can lift tables and boxes of books.”
Those who join the Friends receive a free book for each shift they work sorting through books and donations. Meetings for book sorting are held most Tuesdays from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
“I did not think it was going to be this big, but it’s awesome that they’ve been able to get this many books,” Mackensie Daniel said. “It’s good to give back for the community and fund the library.”
Loreal Puleo is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
