Cape Girardeau library to hold fall book sale this weekend

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will put up for sale thousands of used books this weekend to raise money for library operations and future expansion of the facility.

Most of the books have been donated by library supporters. Some, however, are well-used library books, library director Betty Martin said.

"We do try to weed the collection and make sure that it is fresh looking," she said.

The three-day sale kicks off with a special preview from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday for members of the library foundation.

"People can join at the door for a minimum of $15," Martin said.

The sale to the public will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

"It's just the usual great stuff," she said.

The sale will include hardback and paperback books, audio books, videos, DVDs and magazines.

"Cookbooks and children's books are always the most popular," Martin said.

The sale is a bargain for consumers, she said. Hardback books will sell for $1 each. Paperbacks will cost 50 cents. For a quarter, a customer will be able to buy two magazines, she said.

"A lot of times if people are going on vacation, they will come and buy a bunch of paperbacks," Martin said.

Some customers buy books, read them and then donate them back to the library to be sold again. "That is the ultimate recycling," she said.

The Cape Girardeau Zonta Club is helping organize the book sale as it has done for years.

The sale is expected to generate $3,000 to $4,000, Martin said. The library foundation plans to put half of the proceeds into a savings account to help with the building project and half into grants to fund projects like the summer reading program for children, Martin said.

The library has plans for a multimillion-dollar expansion that would require voters to approve a tax increase.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123