It’s nearly Fisherman’s Picnic time again, from July 30 until August 2, and for local readers that means it’s time for the annual Library Friends’ book sale. The sight of long lines of people waiting to enter the Cook County Community Center on Thursday evening and Friday morning gladdens the hearts of Friends member workers, and even having to chase those final persistent browsers out the door on Saturday makes us thankful for all your support.
This is Library Friends’ big fundraiser and it enables the group to enhance the budgets of public library and school media centers. It is a wellestablished fact that in difficult economic times, libraries prove themselves more necessary than ever.
Because Library Friends will not be having a silent auction this year, they will depend even more on the picnic book sale, so members and shoppers are urged to come, to look, and to buy! Some of the books, which would normally be offered at the silent auction, will be displayed this year at a designated price in their own gazebo, as “Better than Better” books. These include books of special interest, Minnesota history and culture, large format books, and perhaps some sets and collections. The Better Books gazebo will hold books of such quality that they could easily make great gifts and look superb on your own bookshelf. Better children’s and young adult books offer the same high quality in their own space.
In the general area, there are more than 40 categories, where readers are sure to find something of interest. Music, talking books and DVD and VHS-format films join the traditional print hard and soft cover offerings in fiction, history, reference, nature, how-tobooks, personal development, gardening, cooking, and on and on.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 30 for members only. Participants may join or renew right at the entrance to the Community Center or at the library that day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This “perk” gives members two hours to stock up before our regular hours on Friday, July 31 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Saturday is the “bag sale” where shoppers may carry away as many books and media as they can get into a bag for $3. Better Books will sell at half price. It’s a real bargain and a very popular tradition, so come early!
If you have books or audiovisual items to donate, it’s not too late to do so. But most importantly, just come and support the work of Cook County Friends. See you at the Community Center on July 30, 31 and August 1.
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