The book buyers’ bonanza showed early success as people lined up and waited for the semi-annual Big Book Sale to begin, plotting their moves to carefully planned sections offering their favorite books.

BCL Friends bond beautifully with book lovers at Big Fall Sale!

November 19, 2008
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula TimesFriends of Blanchard Community Library bonded beautifully with book lovers at the Big Fall Book Sale held Nov. 8 in the library’s north parking lot where thousands of books waited for new friends of their own.The book buyers’ bonanza showed early success as people lined up and waited for the semi-annual Big Book Sale to begin, plotting their moves to carefully planned sections offering their favorite genres.“The Friends don’t usually move things too much,” noted Friend Al Sundstrom, “so buyers know exactly where to head” for their favorite books.The line stretched along North 8th Street past the library building and, on the stroke of 9 a.m., they were allowed to start book browsing.John Nichols said he has attended Friends Book Sales for decades: “Here’s my secret,” he confided, “the best books aren’t in the Better Books section...”Computers, World War II, real estate and “Books on banking” were among the bargains found by Leo Bartley, a Santa Clara Valley Bank Director.Friends President Pat Alderson said volunteers arrived at 7 a.m. to stack the thousands of books - carefully sorted year-round by Friends - on and under tables carefully marked by category.“It’s a real group effort,” noted Alderson.“I saw a little boy about seven or eight sitting cross-legged and reading out loud to himself,” a scene, noted Friends Chris Lemon, that “is real cute...”
Four-year-old Amber Grace Wineman managed to snag a favorite character and indulge in a favorite pastime, making noise with a Winnie the Pooh book that the reader was asked to rattle for a buzzing sound when a bee appeared at the end of a sentence.“With this economic downturn the Friends become even more valuable,” to BCL operations, noted Librarian Dan Robles who said the library has had to consider cutting back on its books and the supplies budget and pare programs due to the economy.“What the Friends do for us is tremendous...they helped fund the family entertainment night” and provide a petty cash account for singular purchases for those must have recent bestsellers.Friends stay friends all year round supplying the library with the means to buy books, equipment and supplies among other expenditures Robles said would not be possible without them.Don Bates said he is a loyal Friends Book Sale patron: “I try to make each sale” and he donates books back to the volunteers for resale.Told that the everything must go sale would be held from 2 to 3 p.m. with all books half price, Bates was unimpressed, noting “As if it wasn’t a sale already...”The Big Fall and Spring sales feature hardcover books for only 50 cents, 25 cent paperbacks and Better Books starting at only $1.Bargains were also to be had at the Silent Auction where hard-to-find rare tomes were the focus of bidding for 90 minutes.



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