Book sale will be held through Saturday

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For the Friends of the Robert Trail Library, planning their annual book sale was a lot easier this year. But moving and organizing 5,000 books is still a lot of work.

“It’s good work, though,” said president Jo Gilbertson.

The friends group has spent the last week at the library getting ready for its second annual book sale.

The book sale will start at 4 p.m. Thursday with a member’s only preview. The first night is open to all FORT members. Other residents can attend the for $10, the cost of a membership.

Member John Loch said the first night draws book dealers and collectors looking to snag treasures. He said people looking for something specific would be smart to attend the first night.

The sale will continue 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The sale will include a wide range of books. Gilbertson said books will include fiction, non-fiction, large print, history, travel, sports, cooking and more. There will also be a large selection of children’s books available.

FORT members have been collecting books for the sale all year. For the last month boxes placed around town have collected donations from residents. Some of the other libraries in Dakota County have donated books from their collections to the cause.

“We are very grateful to the community and other libraries for their generosity,” said Gilbertson.

The sale is FORT’s primary fundraiser, with all proceeds going to help the library provide more robust services to the community and enhance the library experience for everyone. Last year Friends of Robert Trail Library raised more than $3,000 through the book sale.

The group used the money in several ways to meet its goals. It bought five footstools the library wanted for additional seating. To enhance the program, FORT donated three baskets for the library’s Winter Jackets reading programs. And to promote literacy the group gave away 180 children’s books during the Leprechaun Days parade and another 200 books at the Haunted Woods Trail in October.

This year the organization will continue in the same vein, trying to meet some of the library’s needs. Loch said the group has also committed money to One Book One Rosemount, which will go through its second round later in the year.

Merchandise will be priced to sell. Hardcover books will cost $1 each, paperbacks $.50 each, CDs and DVDs $2 and VHS $1 each. A bag sale will be held the last two hours of the sale on Saturday. For $3 shoppers can fill a bag with as many books as they can fit in there.

Gilbertson said the bag sale helped the organization get rid of a lot of the remaining books last year.

Any books that do not sell will be donated to various organizations including the Salvation Army.

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