Friends' Book Sale Returns to Branford Green Oct. 13 - 16
Clear some space on your bookshelves -- and clear your calendar -- the Friends of the Blackstone Library Book Sale is set for Thursday. Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 16 under the gigantic tent on the Branford town green.
The annual sale, which offers miles of books (stacked on 200 tables) at rock-bottom prices, kicks off with a preview night on Thurs. Oct. 13 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. The preview event is free for Friends members; dealers and non-members can enter with a $15 admission. The price is right as the preview night always draws a crowd looking for first dibs on special finds.
"This is the 26th year of the book sale and it's one of the largest in the state," said Mary Hally, Book Sale co-chair. "Dealers from New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont come every year for the great selection we have to offer."
Admission is free on all other days of the sale. Both Friday, Oct. 14 and Saturday Oct. 15 feature extended hours – and we mean extended -- with the tent open for business from 9 a.m. to midnight on both days. On Sunday, Oct. 16, the sale draws to a close with hours from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. -- but that's also the day the Friends offer the sale's biggest blow-out bargain: fill an extra-large bag with as many books as possible for $10 (bags provided by Friends).
"The bag can easily hold 25 hardcover books," said Hally.
The Oct. 13 - Oct. 16 book sale event will feature over 70,000 titles in the form of gently-used and new donated books; all of which have been checked out and brought to the tables by dozens of hardworking volunteers. Hardcover books will be offered for $3, trade paperbacks $2, pocket paperbacks .50 cents and coffee table books $5 and up. The sale also includes hundreds of donated DVDs, tapes and CDs ($1 each) and sets (prices as marked).
Hally said there's much more than great titles to be found at this year's event. The Friends' popular food and beverage concession, "Café Blackstone" also returns. On Saturday, live acoustic music, organized by Ken Johnson of Branford's A Sound Choice, will enhance the entire experience.
Café Blackstone started a couple of years back and has become a popular part of the weekend, said Hally. This year, the Friends have added some new, fall-themed items including hot cider, macaroni and cheese, and apple crisp. Returning cafe favorites will also be on the menu, including Hummel's hot dogs, chocolate chip brownies, crumb cake, cinnamon buns and muffins.
This year's mac & cheese addition arrives courtesy of Shoreline Café & Catering, another local businesses pitching in to help support the annual sale.
Proceeds from the book sale support special programs at the library. The Friends purchase the library's free museum passes offered to the public, pay for staff to attend conferences, sponsor Blackstone cultural programs such as the music and lecture series, and purchase equipment to enhance library offerings. Recent purchases include a 3D printer for teen programs and a reference department scanner.
Hally also wants to recognize a local resident who has become an important partner in the success of the annual book sale, Captain Bill Smith of Thimble Islands Ferry Service. Thousands of books arriving all year long need to be channeled from a small book drop site to a larger sorting space. In the past, the Friends had access to space inside the Branford Hills School. But when the building was demolished earlier this year, "..we lost our sorting space," said Hally.
The Friends found renting a similar space to be cost-prohibitive, but thanks to entering a partnership with Smith, problem solved.
"We had to find a space to rent, and without the arrangement we have with Captain Bill Smith, we would not have been able to afford to continue the sale," said Hally. "We split the rent and he uses the facility six months of the year, when we are not sorting books. It's a great arrangement for both parties."
As the big book sale weekend draws near, the Friends are also asking for assistance from community members who might want to help with before, during or after the sale. Volunteers are needed on Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to help set up books on tables. Volunteers are also needed for Friday Oct. 14 and Saturday Oct. 15 for cashier shifts, as well as to help out as "floaters" at the sale or as servers at Café Blackstone, said Hally. On Sunday, Oct. 16, volunteers are needed to help remove leftover books.
"We are also looking for volunteers to sort the books during the off-season, and for transporting books from the book drop to the sorting station," said Hally.
To volunteer, contact marycolwellhally@aol.com