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There was a wide range of both fiction and non-fiction available at the sale, separated into a variety of categories. In addition to the literature, there was a small selection of baked goods, plants and tote bags, all of which were donated by volunteers from the Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library.
Prices were as low as 25 cents for a paperback, and up to three dollars for limited editions. All proceeds from the sale went back to the group, which funds various projects at the library throughout the year that wouldn’t otherwise be possible due to limited funding.
“We keep our prices as low as possible, so we’re satisfied with whatever we can raise at these sales,” Ruth Shire, the vice president of the Friends, said. “We just need enough to be able to do what we do during the year.”
The Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library sponsors the six-week summer reading program in the city each year, are responsible for holiday decorations and several other reading programs for students and adults alike. Their next event will include putting on a free play for the community in February.
Shire added that nothing would be possible without the donations and volunteers from the community. This year, the book sale included an extensive history collection after a former college professor donated 20 boxes of lightly used books from his days in the classroom.
“Everything is donated by the community, and it’s all in excellent condition,” she said. “We sort them when they come in, and if we think they won’t sell, we give them away for free.”
Although Mount Vernon has been the victim of negative publicity and several scandals over the last few years, Shire and President Charlotte Schacter said that it was important to the Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library to shed a positive light on the good things that happen in the city.
“We like to illuminate what the library does. A lot of the good things that happen aren’t known in the community,” Schacter said. “We try to bring that out and remind people that Mount Vernon is a great place to live.”
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