KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow.com) Thousands of used books will be available to browse at the Friends of Keene Public Library’s fall book sale, returning Friday, Oct. 23, through Sunday, Oct. 25, at Heberton Hall on Winter Street.

Carol Jeffery of the Friends group was a guest on Good Morning with Dan Mitchell Thursday on WKBK Radio to talk about the three-day sale, which features books spanning a wide range of interests, from fiction, mysteries and children’s literature to history, biographies, cookbooks, poetry and travel. Proceeds help fund library resources and programs that might otherwise go unfunded through the regular taxpayer-supported budget.

Doors open at 10 a.m. each day. Friday’s sale runs until 6 p.m., Saturday’s until 5 p.m. and Sunday’s until 2 p.m.

Sunday is $5 Bag Day, when shoppers can fill a reasonably sized bag with books for $5. Visitors may bring their own bag or use one provided at the sale. Shoppers must be able to carry their own purchases, as volunteers cannot assist with carrying them. Dictionaries and Bibles are available free of charge, and city parking will also be free Sunday.

Books for Every Interest

The sale occupies two floors, with the main hall featuring books organized by genre and subject. Large signs help shoppers navigate the selection, which volunteers sort and arrange in advance.

The upstairs Cohen Hall space offers a separate collection of higher-value books, along with sections devoted to fitness and self-help, local authors and local topics. Organizers say higher-value books remain available throughout the public sale.

Children’s books are another major draw, though that section can sell out as shoppers work their way through the selection.

Before the doors open to the public, a preliminary sale is held the previous evening for teachers, book dealers and Friends of Keene Public Library members.

During public sale hours, volunteers will be available to help visitors find particular subjects or sections.

Supporting Library Programs

Money raised through the sale goes toward items on librarians’ wish lists that may fall outside the library’s regular operating budget.

Past purchases have included the library’s first personal computers. More recent examples include circulating passes that give library patrons access to museums and art galleries, expanding opportunities for families and individuals to explore cultural and educational attractions.

Those passes have included destinations such as the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont, and the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Jeffery, speaking on behalf of the book sale organizers, thanked the people who donate books, attend the sale and volunteer their time, as well as Monadnock Media for supporting the community event.

The fall sale offers residents an opportunity to discover new reading material while helping fund additional resources for Keene Public Library and its patrons.

Listen to the full interview: