Eggs were 44 cents a dozen and Eisenhower was president when the Friends of Richmond Public Library (FRPL) was formed. The year was 1959 when the Friends of the Library book sale was created to raise funds for library programming.
Today library staff and attendees agree that it remains a unique community experience for book lovers and library goers to meet and connect over the love of books, writing and learning.
Chris Larson, executive board member of the FRPL and head of the Shelving Committee, learned that the sale has been held in various parts of the library over the years.
“At one time, it was held outside on the front porch of the main library branch,” Larson says. “Since I’ve been involved for the past ten plus years, the sale has moved from the mezzanine stacks to the auditorium.”
Leslie Ridderhof, a regular attendee of the sale since 2012, appreciates how the library has pared down and reorganized the volume of books, CDs, DVDs, sheet music, and children’s games and books into two rooms that are easily navigable.
“It’s like a small used bookstore within a library,” Ridderhof says. “The sale is still in the basement but has wider aisles between tables that hold boxes of books instead of previous years where books were on rows of shelving with narrow aisles and long tables of books down the main center aisle that were difficult to rummage through.”
The sale is a gold mine for everyone from bibliophiles to film and music lovers, offering all types of books in paperback and hardback, fiction and nonfiction. Attendees can browse art books, novels, reference books, history, travel, science, children’s picture books and chapter books and books for young adults. There are even vintage and collectable books.
“I once found a few collected works of Edgar Rice Burroughs in hardback, good condition, cloth-bound from the early-20th century,” says Ridderhof. “It was the perfect gift for a sci-fi reader friend and all for only $2 each!”
But there’s more than books, including CDs and DVDs. There are former library books for sale, as well as gently used and even brand new books, all of which are donated during the Friends’ book drives. “Sometimes we have vinyl records, and other ephemera for sale,” Larson says. “This year we have a very large collection of sheet music.”
The beauty of it is that the inventory changes for each sale. For years, the Friends kept prices lower than most book sales because they’re committed to selling all the books and other media on offer. In addition to the scores of books available for sale, there’s also a small selection of individually priced books in their Special Collection. “We’ve increased our prices only once since I’ve been involved,” Larson says. “Currently we sell our hardback books for $3 and our paperback books for $1.”
Long-time attendees agree that the book sale is a tradition as integral to Richmond as Easter on parade, the Folk Fest or InLight. Larson recalls how excited she used to get when she drove down Main Street and saw the signs announcing the book sale. “I always loved attending as a patron,” she says. “I’d see many familiar faces at the sales, and everyone is usually very happy and appreciative of the good deals they find.”
Ridderhof is one of those happy faces, making a day of the sale by attending with a friend and having lunch afterward. “I’ve made the book sale a must twice every year because it offers exceptional value in several types of entertainment media,” she says. “It’s a chance to give back locally and help the library make room for new inventory.”
Friend of the Library members like Ridderhof can enjoy the first two hours of the sale on Friday perusing the stacks before the doors open to the public.
“It’s quieter and allows me first dibs and a greater chance to find a particular book I have my heart set on acquiring if it’s available,” she says. “Depending on the time I have, I usually head straight to my favorite genres first. I then look for favorite authors and sometimes I’ll discover a new author to try.”
With 13 years of book sales under her belt, Ridderhof has a few pro tips for first timers at the book sale. She suggests setting aside several hours and taking the time to get acquainted with the space and how it’s organized. The library does checkout at the entrance/exit taking cash, check or credit card.
“If you have a TBR [that’s a to-be-read-list] bring it as a guide so you won’t have to remember what you need or already have,” Ridderhof advises. “I also collect books to give as gifts throughout the year, so I keep in mind that grandchild, neighbor or friend who might appreciate an interesting biography, cookbook, novel, DVD, new or classic children’s book.”
Also bring a good carryall bag to load your finds. Some seasoned attendees bring backpacks, bag carts on wheels, or multiple bags. But even those arriving bagless need not worry because volunteers offer boxes and paper bags at the checkout if you don’t have one or need extras. They’re also happy to set aside your choices if you don’t want to haul heavy books up and down the aisles
Egg prices and presidents may have changed since 1959, but the pleasures of the Friends of the Library book sale endure.
The Friends of the Library Book Sale takes place May 2-4 at the Main Library of the Richmond Public Library, 101 E. Franklin St.; Friday 12-5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m. For more info, visit rvalibrary.org
