Pequot Library’s 47th Annual Book Sale Set for July 25 - 29

*One of the biggest, best book sales in the region
        Over 140,000 books
        More than 50 categories along with CDs, tapes, LPs, and more

*Young Reader’s Day on Sunday, July 27th
        New books donated by publishers
        Encouraging a life long love of reading and learning in children

*Books for Teachers
        Funded by the Renée Fisher Foundation
        Vouchers give teachers from Bridgeport and New Haven $100 worth of books

*Silent Auction of Rare Books
        Volumes of extraordinary value and some with fun local connections
        Bid at the Sale or submit an absentee bid

* * *

When the cannon goes off at 9:00 a.m. on the grounds of Pequot Library on Friday morning, July 25 th to announce the start of the Annual Summer Book Sale, the crowd that eagerly swells into the tents will find over 140,000 books carefully sorted into over 50 categories and priced to move. Now in its 47th year, the Pequot Library Book Sale continues to be one of the biggest events of its kind in New England. Size matters when it comes to selection and variety, but quality is just as important, and Pequot Library has a well-deserved reputation for hosting one of the best book sales in the country.

The Sale is organized by a dedicated team of volunteers led by Co-Chairs John Hartwell and Barbara Young, and their collective wisdom about what makes a good book for the sale is what really makes the Pequot Sale so special.

There are a wide range of selections in such areas as children’s books, Connecticut and New England, current fiction, classic literature, gardening and nature, history, mystery, science, science fiction, sports, travel, crafts and hobbies, health, music, performing arts, art and architecture, biography, and many more.

Last year the on-going renovations at the Library caused some disruption in the flow of the sale. The renovations are now successfully complete and the building will once again be accessible throughout the sale. Several improvements have been implemented this year which will make the Sale even better than last year and a bigger main tent will give more room to the patrons as they shop.

The Book Sale is the biggest fund-raiser of the year at Pequot Library. The Library is a true treasure for all of Southern New England . It brings literature, music, art, and learning into the community. It is a place where children are welcome and safe, and introduced to the magic of reading. It exemplifies what a great library should be. The Library serves the town of Fairfield and beyond, into Westport, Norwalk, Bridgeport, and the entire region. The Library is one of Connecticut’s architectural gems and is the home of countless musical programs, lectures, and forums about the pressing issues of the day.

Young Reader’s Day

This year, we hope to continue the Young Readers’ Day on Sunday, July 27th. The idea was triggered by the gift of thousands of “like new” children’s books from several book publishers including Simon and Schuster and Roaring Brook Press. These gifts were arranged by Paige Gillies, a member of the Book Sale Committee and the books include a wonderful variety of classics and new titles. These books will be available for the first time during the sale on Sunday morning starting at 10:00 a.m., and will be housed in a separate Young Readers Day tent. As a special bonus, all children who come on Young Readers’ Day will receive a free book from the Children’s Section in the Main tent.

In addition to this large selection of children’s books, Young Readers’ Day will also feature a children’s concert at 1:00 p.m. led by Mary Ann Hall. Ms. Hall is the head of Music for Children, a child-centered music program with a family focus that has locations throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut, a center in New York City, and a location in San Francisco. Hall has performed extensively and is renowned for her ability to connect her music to the hearts of the children and adults in her audience.

In addition to the concert, there will be crafts and story-hours presented by Susan Ei, Pequot Library’s Children’s Librarian.

Young Readers’ Day is arranged and coordinated by volunteer Ruth Frantz, who understood how deeply Pequot Library cares about the children who come to the Library and wanted to make sure there was something special for them at the Book Sale as well.

Silent Auction Highlight of “Specials” Section of Sale

Every imaginable kind of book can be found on the tables set up in Pequot Library’s auditorium and under the tents that surround the building during the sale. The selections range from serious scholarship to breezy summer reading and everything in between.

In addition, every year a number of “special” books with local interest or high value are donated to the Sale and these are sold in a separate, quieter section of the Library. These Specials, as they are refered to by the Library and patrons alike, include first editions, signed copies, and even rare books.

Bidders may indicate their bid on a sheet, or may bid anonymously. Absentee bids will be accepted.

Books for Teachers

Over the past several years, through the generosity of the Renée B. Fisher Foundation, Pequot Library has been able to offer vouchers for up to $100 to teachers in the Bridgeport and New Haven school systems. With these vouchers, teachers can purchase an extraordinary quantity of books for their classroom or their personal libraries with the cost being underwritten through a grant from the Renée B. Fisher Foundation.

These books are an invaluable resource for the teachers, and the teachers who are accepted into the program are thrilled. One teacher wrote, “It is very difficult to get books for our libraries unless we buy them ourselves. This program really helps our teachers.” Another echoed that same theme when they wrote, “I received this voucher last year and it is the first time in four years I haven't had a student complain in SSR (Sustained Silent Reading). I would really appreciate this opportunity once again. It has helped my reading program immensely. Thanks for the offer.” Finally, another teacher summed it up when she wrote, “This is for Books for Teachers, but really they're for the kids!!"

LPs, CDs, Tapes and More

The Pequot Library Book Sale is about more than just books. Every year for the past three years, under the direction of Paige Gillies and Lee Freeman, the number of high quality, collectible LPs, 45's, CDs, and tapes has risen dramatically. “We are seeing a whole new clientele come to the Book Sale who are looking for audio treasures,” said Gillies.

Donations

Each and every one of the more than 140,000 books and other items in the sale have been donated to the Library. Donors come from all over and most of the books are simply dropped off anonymously in the shed at the Library. For those with large collections, or who may have trouble delivering books to the Library, a pickup service has been established. While no magazines, or textbooks over five years old are accepted, everything else is, and it is through the wonderful generosity of these donors that the sale has grown to what it is today.

Volunteers

The Pequot Library Book Sale is also about the people who work so hard to make the sale a success. According to Dan Snydacker, the Executive Director at Pequot Library, “our volunteers have been working day in and day out all year long and they are a wonderful, dedicated group.” There are more than 60 community members who come to the Library as volunteers to process the tens of thousands of books donated throughout the course of the year.

These “pricers and sorters” diligently examine every single donated book, assigning it a price and a category so that our visitors can easily find the kinds of books they are looking for. “With all their quiet, behind-the-scenes hard work, these volunteers are making an enormous contribution to the Library and to the community it serves,” said Snydacker.

Committee Member Stephanie Weaver is in charge of this year-long effort of pricing and sorting books. She has been involved with the book sale for many years and has a sense born of experience as to what the Book Sale patrons look for and what categories they respond to. She encourages anyone with a love of books and Pequot Library to join the volunteer team.

For more information about becoming a Book Sale volunteer, email booksale @ Pequotlibrary.com.

Ruth Ann Baumgartner, the member of the Book Sale Committee who is in charge of the volunteers who work during the sale itself, takes care of the painstaking job of scheduling and training of the volunteers. There are ample numbers of volunteer cashiers so that no line is ever too long.

* * *

The Pequot Library Book Sale is open as follows:

Third Annual “Young Readers’ Day” on Sunday July 29th
Young Readers Day Tent opens at 10:00 a.m.