Bookworms have It's like Christmas in July for book lovers this week as preparations continue for the annual Friends of the Library used book sale.
a July feast
The library benefit will have
thousands of books available
for a real steal of a priceBy Kelliann Shimote
kshimote@starbulletin.comMore than 31 volunteers spend an entire year unpacking, sorting and pricing more than 3,000 boxes of books for the fundraiser, which benefits the state's public libraries.Preparing for the sale is like unwrapping presents says Anna Blackwell, a 68-year-old volunteer. "You never know what you are going to find," she said.
"Everybody goes crazy," Blackwell continued. "The bargains, they really are incredible."
According to Executive Director Caroline Dvojacki for Friends, the average price for books is about $2. Some items will sell for 20 cents, other books go for $100.
Books that are in the $100 price range are either first editions or unique in their own way. "We have a Tony Hillerman's first edition of "People of Darkness," and a unique book called "Historic Homes of Hawaii," that has pictures of the big houses here in the '30s and '40s," Dvojacki said.
This is the 54th year of the sale. Books range from cookbooks to children's books, even sheet music. Also for sale are record albums, videos, puzzles, magazines and CDs.
Last year's sale raised more than $108,900.
Unsold books will be distributed to libraries and schools located on the Marshall Islands, the island of Yap and Micronesia.
The sale begins Saturday and runs through July 14 at McKinley High School. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day until July 14 when the hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and all books left will sell for 50 cents, (paperbacks are 2 for 50 cents).
Volunteers will be back sorting through books again on July 16 for next year's book sale. For more information you can contact the Friends of the Library of Hawaii at 536-4174.