Volunteers like Barry, Wayne, Mary and Fran help make the Arlington Public Library's book sale a success.
The Friends of the Arlington Public Library Spring Book Sale opened March 30 and runs through Sunday, April 3. More than 60,000 items are available for sale throughout the weekend at Meadowbrook Recreation Center. Transforming the empty gym into a busy book market is a big task, but the Friends are ready. A team of volunteers spend months behind the scenes to make the Book Sale happen.
"Working the Book Sale gets into your blood," says Cathy. She found the Friends while volunteering at the George W. Hawkes Central Library, where another volunteer suggested she try working with both organizations. Soon, Cathy was hooked. She works throughout the year at the Friends' storage warehouse, focusing on children's books. She's always loved reading with kids and enjoys now sorting and packaging picture books. This year, she and the other Friends have prepared 302 boxes of children's materials for sale - Cathy estimates that's between 9,000 and 20,000 books, just for kids!
"I like watching the kids at the Sale," Cathy says. "It's great when they get excited and find books to jump on."
Volunteers from across Arlington perform many different jobs during Book Sales. Cathy spends some time as a floater, refilling and tidying the children's tables. Other volunteers take payments, tally up purchases, answer questions, and organize a holding area for shoppers buying more than they can carry. Jewel, who's been involved with the Friends for at least six years, works with student volunteers from a variety of Arlington schools. Other volunteers have been Friends members for years or even decades. They come back to Book Sales to support the Library, but also to spend time with their friends.
"Volunteers are the best part of the Friends," Jewel says. "They're faithful. They don't give up. We have a great time together."
Barry, who sets up tables and moves boxes at every Book Sale, agrees. "Handling all the books and getting them into peoples' hands is fun," he says. "I look forward to this all year."
You can be part of the fun by joining the Friends of the Arlington Public Library. The Friends of the Arlington Public Library is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting the Arlington Public Library System. Since 1987, the Friends have raised more than $764,000 in gifts for the Library.
Click here for book sale hours and other details.
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