The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Library branch holds book sale
While the ice and snow kept many inside on Jan. 13 the Lorain Public Library’s Main Branch was a hub of excitement for their book sale.
The sale began Jan. 12, but members of the Friends of the Lorain Public Library Inc. were invited to the premises, 351 West Sixth St., the evening before to take their pick of what was offered.
According to Elaine Betting, public services coordinator for the library, this is the first of three book sales this year.
“We run them in January, May and September,” she said.
According to Betting, this sale will be running longer than most because they have a lot of books to sell.
“This building has been due for some going though and some changing up for a while,” she said. “We have some extra books up there from the things we’ve been moving around.”
Betting said many of the books in the sale come from the Main library and the South Branch, 2121 Homewood Drive, but many are also donated.
“Usually what happens is, someone is going through their house or a relative has passed away or their kids have outgrown the books that they have at home and they bring things in here,” she said. “Sometimes we even get our own books back.”
Jay Metzger is a member of the Friends of the Library Inc. board. He said the Lorain Library sale is different than others going on in the community.
“We think we have one of the most eclectic sales available in the area because we offer everything from adult fiction to mystery all the way through the gamut of records, VHS, CDs, DVDs, children’s books, young adult, board books,” he said. “If you can’t find it her than generally you’ll have to wait awhile (to find it.)”
According to Metzger, this is one of the library’s biggest sales ever and there were easily 3,000 pieces of media for sale at the beginning. He said the stock changes between the three sales held throughout the year.
“We have more science fiction now than we ever had before,” he explained. “We might not have anything in science fiction or maybe 100 cookbooks in May. Each one is different.”
Metzger said the sales are a lot of fun.
“We meet a lot of nice people,” he said. “I really enjoy seeing children come in because they get excited. When they get excited, I get excited.
He said through his work with the sales, he has met teachers that allow him to come in and read to their students.
Metzger said he wasn’t aware of the dollar amount the sales bring in, but could say that it is substantial and goes to fund the Friends of the Lorain Public Library Inc. programs.
The sale runs until Jan. 19, during which each book will only cost a penny.