Library book sale Saturday and Sunday
The final Fort Myers Beach Library Book Sale of the this season will take place this Saturday and Sunday full of great bargains.
The sale will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, and Sunday, March 17, on the ground floor inside the Fort Myers Beach Library, located at 2755 Estero Blvd. There is free parking available on site, and the Beach Tram and trolleys also make a stop at the library.
Rick Sebastian, Fort Myers Beach Library board of director, said the book sale in addition to raising money for the friends group, is also a great way to showcase the library during their business hours on Saturday.
“It’s a great time to come in and see what is available in the library as far as computers, displays, beautiful collection of shells and model boats,” he said, adding that individuals can also check out the jigsaw puzzles that are always going. “It’s a good time to come in and see the library. The library is only open until 1 p.m.”
Jan Fleming, who runs the book sale, said they hold the sale four times a year, November, January, February and March, all two days each on a Saturday and Sunday.
“I came on board as a volunteer when my husband and I retired here in 2013. I started out as a volunteer in the bookstore. They were having book sales at that time,” she said.
A that time they were only held on one day, for three and a half hours, four times a year.
More than a year ago, Fleming suggested the sale be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday due to the time it took to set up the book sale.
“It doubled our profit. It was worth it to have it for two days,” she said.
The sale features hardback and paperback books, puzzles, DVDs and CDs. The hardback books and puzzles are $2, and the paperbacks are $1.
“The majority of the books are like new. When you consider people spending $2 and $1 here and there . . . we make more than $1,000. People will walk out with boxes of books and bring their own book bags,” Fleming said.
Although the inventory is organized, it is not done alphabetically, but rather by genres, some of which are in large print. Those included are fiction, nonfiction and children’s books.
“We have books on everything, fiction to nonfiction, from cookbooks to mysteries, autobiographies and biographies. Most of these books are duplicates, or books that have been donated to the library as well,” Sebastian said.
The books donated, he said often times comes from the visitors of the island who buy a book to read on their trip.
“When they finish with the book they donate it to the library,” Sebastian said.
The sale also started incorporating a silent auction with items donated to the library.
The sale will also feature items from the Friends of the Library used bookstore, which is on the third floor of the library. The bookstore sells used books, as well as such gift items as cards, notepads, magnets and Fort Myers Beach bags. The store also sells a Fort Myers Beach Library Cookbook, which includes many recognized names from the island.
“We have so many tourists and people that come to the island that don’t have a library card. They can come up Monday through Saturday and shop for a used book,” Fleming said of the store.
The money raised during the book sale goes towards the Friends of the Library. Fleming said last year they provided a $20,000 check to the library, which enabled them to purchase quite a few items.
In the past the book sale has contributed to the library purchasing displays for CDs, a portable keyboard player, a mural in the elevator shaft, large monitors for announcements, security cameras and outdoor benches.
“The money has gone to many different things over the years,” she said.
Fleming said they are grateful for the island supporting them and coming out to buy books and volunteer. She said anyone who has time to provide a helping hand setting up the book sale on Friday can do so by stopping by at 9:15 a.m. Volunteers are also being sought on Sunday around 1 p.m. to help clean up the book sale.