Vintage Children’s Books and Current/New Members' Sale Hours Highlight Friends' Fall Book Sale

By Dot Bergin

BHS senior, Keara Russell, helps the Friends of the Bedford Library prepare for the Fall Book sale beginning Thursday, September 18th 6:30-8:30 for members, and Friday, Sept 19th 1-5pm, Saturday Bedford Day 10-4pm, Sunday, Sept 21st, 1-4pm for the general public. This fall’s book sale highlights an exceptionally large and exciting inventory of children’s books, vintage children’s books, children’s DVD’s, VHS, CD’s, puzzles and games. Keara Russell lent her artistic talent creating a special welcome to the Children’s Book Sale area. Please visit our booth at Bedford Day for more fun Children’s books. — BHS senior, Keara Russell, helped the Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library create a special welcome to the Children’s Book Sale area for the Fall Book sale that begins this Thursday, September 18, from 6:30-8:30 for members and individuals wishing to join the Friends. The sale is open to the public from 1 to 5 pm on Friday; from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday/Bedford Day; and from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday. The sale includes an exceptionally large and exciting inventory of vintage children’s books along with more current children’s books, DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, puzzles and games. Courtesy image

By Dot Bergin

If old-fashioned, beautifully illustrated children’s books are your collectible, you may want to be first in line when the Friends of the Bedford Free Public Library Book Sale opens to the public at 1 pm on Friday, September 19 and continues through 4 pm, Sunday, September 21. The sale is also open to members, or those wishing to become members, from 6:30 until 8:30 pm on Thursday evening, September 18,

Some of the vintage children's books in this year' sale — *One of the vintage children’s books in the sale*

Friends’ Vice-President and Membership Chair Sabine Gossart tells The Citizen that several hundred “vintage” children’s books have been donated to the sale, with editions dating from 1907 up to 1969. These are large, hard-cover editions and you may find your childhood favorite among them.

Although children’s books are plentiful, so too are hundreds of choice finds for teens and adult readers. Bedford book lovers know the twice-yearly Friends’ book sales are not-to-be-missed events. Since the very successful Patriot’s Day sale in April, book donations have been piling in. For the Friends, preparing for the sale entails hours and hours of hard work, sorting, pricing, and overseeing the actual sales days. But what a harvest of good comes from the sales!

Members-Only Pre-Sale – Prospective new members are invited

The Friends have scheduled a member-only preview sale on Thursday, September 16 from 6:30-8:30 pm. The sale has a very friendly atmosphere and refreshments are served. It is a great time to come and get the best selection.

Prospective members are invited to join the Friends at the door (Individual $10, Family $15, Sponsor $25, Benefactor $50, three-year memberships also available with $5 discount).

Use of electronic devices (including ‘smart’ cell phones) will not be permitted during the members-only pre-sale on Thursday evening.

What does the Book Sale support?

With the monies collected, the Friends are able to provide a treasury of services for Library users, above and beyond what the annual Town Library budget can support. If you have ever requested a museum pass, attended a special program at the Library, checked out a DVD (or a DVD player), to mention a few of the Friends’ enhancements to the Library, it’s all a result of profits from the book sales and annual membership dues. One recent and greatly appreciated Friends’ contribution: the mini iPads that were awarded to the winners of the Teen and Adult summer reading programs.

Note: on Sunday, last day of the sale, selected items are half-price and books by the bag will be sold.

A small sampling of the thousands of books that will be available in the Friends' Fall Book Sale - Image (c) JMcCT, 2014 — *A small sampling of the thousands of books that will be available in the Friends’ Fall Book Sale – Image (c) JMcCT, 2014*

“The Bedford Education Foundation will have a cookie decorating booth, and they’ll also be raffling off 2 tickets to the BEF Winter Bash, their annual auction & cocktail party (Dec. 6, 2014 at Waxy O’Connor’s).”