Hilo Library book sale slated

Hilo Public Library Friends volunteers will host their annual spring used-book sale Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 26-28, at the library at 300 Waianuenue Ave.

“Everyone is invited to browse your way through literally more than 4,000 books priced at $1 for a hardcover and 50 cents for a paperback,” said Friends President Lucy Maloney. “As always, there will be a special bargain price on Saturday — all the books you can fit into a plastic grocery bag for $4, or bring your own recyclable bag if you prefer.”

As they do every spring and fall for their twice-a-year sales, the hard-working volunteer book sorters over the past few months have set aside a selection of books to be priced somewhat higher due to their rarity. In this special section, browsers can find mint-condition hardcover books with like-new dust jackets and first editions of very high quality.

Sale times are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26; 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 27, and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 28.

And if you are a member of the Friends of the Library — a status easily achievable with a $10 dues donation at the door — you get a sneak peek from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25.

“Due to popular demand, we are opening the doors a half hour earlier than at previous book sales,” said Maloney. “If you’re not currently a Friend, don’t worry, you can become an ‘instant Friend’ at the door.”

What sorts of books can you expect to find? Everything from A to Z in both fiction and nonfiction and, of course, children’s books. Major categories in fiction are mystery, science fiction, romance and western. Nonfiction categories include animals, nature, architecture, art, biography, business, computer, cooking, reference, education, textbooks, foreign language, gardening, Hawaiiana, health, history, government, military, hobbies, humor, literature, drama, poetry, music, film theater, religion and philosophy, science, sociology, psychology, self-help, sports, technology, home improvement and travel.

There also are about 50 DVDs priced at $2 as well as about 20 audio-books on cassette and several dozen VHS tapes.

“Come early to get the best selection,” said Jane Webb, a former HPL Friends president. “There is less competition on Wednesday Preview Night and much easier parking. At our fall book sale, only 80 Friends browsed in comfort for one and a half hours, and you could be one of them. Thursday through Saturday, more than 1,500 booklovers attended our last book sale and bought almost every book on the shelf.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but we could use a few more books,” said Sally Kegler, coordinator of the book sales. “If you have anything you would like to donate, just drop by the circulation desk and the staff will be happy to help you carry in your boxes and give you a receipt for tax purposes.”

The sale is sponsored by Friends of the Hilo Public Library and organized and staffed by nearly 50 volunteers. Net proceeds from this sale directly support Hilo Public Library.

All of the proceeds are pumped directly back into serving library needs such as purchasing adult, reference and Hawaiiana materials, books and incentives for children’s and adults’ reading contests, computer software, DVDs and many other programs not covered by the limited state budget. In past years Friends have helped pay for the new white floor tile in the lobby, a new magazine display rack and brochures about the native plants in the atrium, in addition to other “behind-the-scenes” needs of the library. Since 2005 the Friends have also awarded five $1,000 scholarships to librarians-in-training at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Since its establishment in 1983, the Friends of the Hilo Library has raised more than $100,000 for the library.

Currently, more than 300 community members contribute annually to the Friends and nearly 50 of these contributors actively volunteer their time to assist the group with fundraising efforts that include the used book sales. In addition to organizing the books sales, Friends sort and pack book donations year round. Volunteers also stock a Bargain Bookshelf which offers a small number of books for sale in between sales.

Please contact the library at 933-8888 to find out how to become a member, or visit www.hilopubliclibrary.org to print out a Friendship application to mail in.

During the sale, parking is limited to the library lot on Thursday and Friday, but additional parking will be available on Saturday at the Big Island Substance Abuse Council across the street.