Lots of books & more at Gail Borden ‘Extravaganza’ sale
By Janelle Walker For The Courier-News September 19, 2012 12:12PM
Updated: October 21, 2012 2:39PM
ELGIN — For the past year, Gail Borden Public Library has been picking through the very best books donated for by its patrons.
Among those are hundreds of paperback and hardcover books, CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes and other materials. There is even a Studs Terkel-autographed book in the mix.
Now, those books — along with books and other materials no longer needed by the library — can be picked up for a song.
Thursday night kicks off the first-ever Book Sale Extravaganza. Modeled on a popular book sale put on by the Lake Forest Library, the four-day event hopes to raise money for the Gail Borden Foundation.
“This has been a year in the planning,” said Jean Bednar, a library trustee who also serves on the foundation board.
Now is the time to do the sale, she said, because the window is narrowing. “People are doing more e-books” and might not want to pick up bound copies for their shelves, she said.
They hope for the same success found by the Lake Forest sale, Bednar added. That library makes $100,000 a year from its sale.
Volunteers were very picky about which books were accepted for the sale. Those that looked too worn, had water or other damage, or that were just too old were recycled.
But by looking through the books, they discovered ones like the Studs Terkel book, Bednar said.
Most of the books are $1 for a softcover and $2 for a hardcover. Other, rarer books and materials will be priced higher. There are newer, popular books in the mix, said Denise Raleigh, marketing and communications director, including the “Twilight” and “50 Shades of Gray” series.
There will be plenty from which to choose. Nearly 850 boxes of books have been sorted through and are awaiting purchase by readers, Bednar said.
Thursday night’s event is a presale of sorts, and requires a minimum $25 donation to the Friends of the Foundation to attend. The sale continues from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
