Sales jump at Mount Prospect Friends of the Public Library Book Sale
Despite a new 9 a.m. (from 10 a.m.) opening time at the Mount Prospect Public Library and its impact on shoppers attending last weekend's Friends of the Mt. Prospect Public Library book sale volunteers were greeted with large crowds of all ages eager to find a gem.
And gems they found at amazing prices during the two-day sale.
"It was like a vacuum had gone into the 25-cent room, full of paperbacks of all types," Friends of the Mount Prospect Public Library President Pat Klawitter said Saturday. "When we set up the room before the sale there were tons of boxes of books under all the tables (about 20) and by 11 a.m. Saturday, just two hours after the sale began, those boxes were all gone! It's been amazing."
"It was jam packed in all three rooms for hours after the sale started," Klawitter continued. "We had a long line to get in. It was unusually constantly busy and a ton of fun. Books, CDS, vinyl, puzzles, games were flying off the shelves in all three of our sale rooms - the upstairs better books room, the 25-cent room and the downstairs Friends' room where most books go for a dollar."
Volunteers said it was packed with happy shoppers, especially kids.
"One young shopper was thrilled she found and bought a full set of the Dork diaries," said one volunteer.
Everything sold. From garden, art and cookbooks, to sport, business, travel, languages, collectibles, children's books and more. Items teachers could use such as handouts on coins and nature were a big hit.
"Our huge selection of high-quality military books for sale were almost gone by noon Saturday," Klawitter said. "A great collection of books, one of our largest ever, about WWI, WWII and more. Not only that, but the novels for sale on the first floor were almost gone by the end of Saturday."
The book sale was a huge success for the community, officials said. All funds raised go to the Mount Prospect Public Library for programs. Friends'officials note overall this book sale saw an 8 % increase in sales over the fall sale and the first-floor better book room saw a 16% increase in sales over the fall book sale.
For shoppers there is always a wide selection featuring thousands of books of all types, for all ages, at bargain prices and in great condition. Most books cost a dollar or less, many are only 25 cents where in the better books room all items are individually priced, as marked and are like new.
The next Friends book sale is April 15 (9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and April 16 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.). However, People can still purchase books, puzzles and DVDs from two Friends' self-service trolleys at the library - the children's trolley on the first floor by the youth service desk, and the adult trolley on the second floor at the top of the stairs by the elevator. All books are individually priced. One just puts their payment in the payment box next to the trolley. Those funds also go towards library programs.
For future books sales, people can drop off tax-deductible donations of books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles, vinyl records and more in the black bins provided at the library' Friends' Room door on the lower level of the garage next to the elevator door.
"It's great to see the enthusiasm from everyone at the sale who not only found books they were looking for, but new authors they can't wait to curl up and read," Klawitter said.
The Friends organization is in its 41st year and is made up of all volunteers.
As they close the book on this sale, another chapter has opened as during last weekend's sale even more donations came in. Friends' volunteers are already back to work preparing even more great finds for every age for the April sale. For more information go to https://friendsofmppl.mailerpage.com/ .