$400,000 Landmark Book Sale: March 1, 2014
Despite the rain, 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2014, was a time for celebration. Since 1993, under the tutelage of Jim Shield, the SCFOL Monthly first Saturday Used Book Sales have cumulatively sold over 1M books and raised $400, 000. When the announcement was made, cheers rang out congratulating SCFOL Book sale volunteers. Then the library and Book Sale patrons enjoyed the celebratory cake cut by SCFOL Book Sale Chair Ron McFee, President Judy Williams, and Ways & Means Board Chair Jim Shields. SCFOL was thrilled to have reached this milestone during the 40th Anniversary year of our Branch Library. Jim quickly pointed out that first and foremost we must thank those who so generously donate their gently used books for us to sell; the hundreds of energetic volunteers who donate thousands of hours of their time and many a sore muscle and back to the tasks of sorting-displaying-selling-and storing all of those thousands of books; and our patrons who come each month to buy, and buy, and buy. The Book Sale has a high book turnover rate–close to 50% of the titles are new each month. 
Other notable landmark book sales were: the very first SCFOL book sale, August, 1982, raised $250; August, 1993 was the first sale to top the $1000 mark; the February, 2003 sale brought in over $2000 for the first time; on March 1, 2014 the first credit card (via PayPal) book sale purchase was made.
The book sales were started in order to raise funds to buy books for the rental book collection which was purchased since 1993, by Terry Gladin. This program was discontinued in December of 2013 due to the new Leased Book Program which began in the fall of 2013. The following names have been associated with managing the book sales since 1982: Betty Sherman, Sonja Echt, Laura Hulburd, Joe Jones, Joyce Uber, Marty Herman, Carol Garner, Lori Martin, Marie Downey, Ben Seplowin, Pat Shields, Jim Shields, Orlie Baird, and Ron McFee. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, one and all. Book Sale revenue remains the primary source of income for SCFOL which deposits funds into the City’s Library Matching Funds accounts to purchase library books, equipment, and programs–so your book purchases double in value for the library. Additional funds are placed into the SCFOL hope chest Building Fund. THREE CHEERS TO ALL! [easingsliderpro id=”31″]
