Lititz Public Library Friends Plan Fundraiser

Kathy Arnold, a member of the Friends of the Lititz Public Library, enjoys organizing the group's semiannual book sales. "The book sales are fun," said Arnold. Surrounded by banana boxes filled with sorted books in the storage area the Friends share with the library, Arnold cannot contain her delight. "Actually, sorting is fun. We are like, 'Did you see this? Look at that!'" she said.

Arnold is also happy that the Friends are meeting in person again after meeting virtually to observe COVID-19 restrictions, and she is looking forward to the upcoming indoor book sale the Friends will hold at the library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, on Friday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Almost all books will be set at one nominal price, with a table of specialty items priced as marked. The Buck-a-Bag special will begin at noon on April 30.

The Friends accept donations in wagons outside the storage area. A sign lets donors know that certain items - encyclopedias, National Geographics, videotapes, CDs, and anything mildewed - are not accepted. Books, puzzles, and games fill up the wagons and are transported to the storage room for sorting by members of the Friends group.

Arnold explained that due to the limited storage space, books are sorted by condition and an ever-evolving set of guidelines, which tell sorters which books are right for the sale. New books that are donated may go into the library's collection if needed. Nearly new books are sold year round on a special shelf in the library. Depending on genre, books over a certain number of years old are put on a table of free items. Items left over after a biannual sale are sent to Booksavers in Ephrata.

Arnold noted that a number of certain types of items have been donated for this sale. "We have a lot of hardcover fiction, trade (paperbacks), and mass-market (paperbacks)," she said. "This year, we have a lot of Christian fiction, including Beverly Lewis, in beautiful condition." She added that a lot of hardcover books, that are no more than 20 years old are also part of the mix. Donations are sorted into 30 categories, including sports and recreation, animals, humor, large print, art, music, romance, history prior to 1950, and history post-1950.

On the Wednesday prior to the sale, the Friends and a few local helpers, including Linden Hall students and maybe a few Boy Scouts, will begin moving boxes to the library's community room, where they will be laid out on tables for sale. "We think we will have the muscle we need," noted Arnold.

Arnold is looking forward to the Friends becoming more active. In addition to running the book sales, the group would like to resurrect the jewelry sale fundraiser held in the past and restart offering bus trips. "We would love more people to join the Friends now that we are active again," Arnold said.

The 2019 fall book sale raised nearly $20,000, and the Friends are hoping to hit that number again. Funds raised by the Friends are donated to the organization's general fund for library programs. For more information, readers may call 717-626-2255 or visit the library.