Library's book sale goes global

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- In years past, most books being sold as part of a library fund raiser fetched about 50 cents or a dollar each.

But the Friends of the Columbia Public Library has found that marketing to collectors worldwide through the Internet is attracting higher prices for rarer volumes.

The library support group has collected about $4,000 over the past three years from online sales, said Emma Jean McKinin, a retired librarian who came up with the idea.

She said she has put up more than 100 books for auction on the eBay auction site.

While some items don't sell at all, others have brought a handsome price. A Confederate soldier's Civil War journal, for example, sold on eBay for $829.

Proceeds from the sales are spent for library events or book purchases.

McKinin, 78, said there were some challenges in getting the online sales up and running.

"It was quite a learning curve," she said. "I had never used a digital camera. I had to learn how to use the camera, how to use the software to get the pictures, to adjust the pictures, to get them transmitted, to upload them to the hosting place.

"I just learn what I have to to get it done," she said.

But the beneficiaries of the fund-raiser book sale are thankful for the hard work.

"I think this is an exciting new twist to the popular Friends book sales, and it allows the Friends to maximize their donations from our community," said Melissa Carr, director of the Daniel Boone Regional Library system. "It also makes it possible for people that can't make it to one of the sales to enjoy some of the special treats donated by our generous public."