FRIENDS OF THE DAVIS PUBLIC LIBRARY HOLDS BOOK SALES
Starting the first Friday of every month, the nonprofit Friends of the Davis Public Library holds a three-day book sale with the goal of continuously circulating knowledge through the sale of used books donated by the community.
The event is held in and outside the Blanchard Room at Mary L. Stephens Library located at 315 E. 14th St. in Davis and features used books, CDs, movies, puzzles and more.
Rory Osborne, president of the nonprofit, explained that he and the volunteers that make the nonprofit possible started this event because of their love of books.
“What we really like is that we in essence keep most of the books… circulating within the community,” Osborne stressed. “Many of our lives were influenced by what we read so we love living with books, being with books and with the people who also love that.”
“It’s an enjoyable experience sharing a common love for books and being able to support our community library in doing so.”
Osborne noted that the sale was held once every other month prior to the pandemic, but increased donations have allowed them to hold book sales once a month.
“There are people that we see come religiously,” he said. “Although there are digital books now, which are convenient, there are a lot of people who like the visceral experience of holding a book and it has a feel for a lot of people that digital books don’t.”
Joe Furnari is one of the book sale’s “religious” customers. He’s been coming for years and said his favorite thing about the event are the prices and the selection available.
“It’s a good way to recirculate this stuff and not let it wind up in the trash,” Furnari highlighted. “Most of this stuff’s good. It should be reread and reheard.”
Osborne explained that although there are some of what they call “better books” for sale at higher prices, most of them are $1 to $2 and include a range of categories.
“The mystery people get what they want, the history people and the art people and all of that,” he stated. “They each have certain areas that they enjoy and they come and get these bargain books and if they start taking up too much space, they just bring them back and donate
them all and we sell them again.”
This and other events the nonprofit holds helped raise $105,000 last year, which Osborne said is all going towards helping fund the library and the many programs it offers.
“We fund all sorts of children’s programs, reading programs and sponsor various art events that happen,” he highlighted. “Some of it goes to inventory for books and we pay for a lot of different special events…and a lot of the subscription stuff that is now online that people come to the library to use.”
“We sponsor a lot of the stuff that isn’t being paid for by the county and their basic funding, not because they are bad guys, but because they simply don’t have the funds to do all these kinds of programs.”
The book sale is open from noon to 7 p.m. on the first Friday of the month, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
Sunday is “bag day,” which Osborne said means people can bring their own grocery-sized bag to fill with books for $10.
“Please keep the donations of books, CDs, DVDs, LPs, puzzles and magazines coming so that we can continue to provide great fundraising sales,” the event’s website stated.
Visit davislibraryfriends.org/donations if interested in donating.