UPDATE: This story has been updated from what ran in the July 21, 2024 print edition of The Newtown Bee to further clarify how the Friends of C.H. Booth Library Book Sale benefits C.H. Booth Library.

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For over 45 years, Friends of the C.H. Booth Library has been presenting the community with the largest used book sale in the region. The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale is slated to return on Friday, July 12, at 1 pm. The sale will be held at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane. A large collection of items will be sold in the school’s gymnasium, with special and rare items for sale in the auxiliary gym.

Friday’s opening session will run from 1 to 5 pm. Admission that afternoon is $40 and attendance is capped at 200.

On Saturday, July 13, the sale runs from 10 am-5 pm and admission is $5, with ages 18 and under admitted free.

On Sunday, July 14, the sale also runs 10 am-5 pm and items are discounted 25 percent.

On Monday, July 15, the sale will remain open until 7 pm and items are marked 50 percent off. Remaining items will then be offered for free on the final day of the sale, Tuesday, July 16, when the building will be open 10 am-1 pm.

This is the Friends’ largest fundraiser for the library, and there are over 120,000 items for sale this year. The sale started in 1975 with only library discards, but it has since grown to include donated books, puzzles, games, CDs, DVDs, and more.

During the year, the Friends diligently organizes the items for the sale. The proceeds from the book sale go right back into the library in the form of an annual grant that underwrites adult and children's programs, enhances the library's book and media collections, funds technology upgrades and generally supports library services.

“The richness of our area is what supports the richness of our sale,” Kaiser added. “It’s random … There is something for everyone,” and she couldn’t be any more correct.

She recently presented a stamp collection that was found in the donation pile with mint condition, counter sheet Elvis Presley stamps, as well as The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.

John Renjilian, in charge of the special listings, showed a collection of war ship photographs that included an original drawing, and a limited edition of Joyce Carol Oates’ Sentimental Education. He explained that in this year’s donations, a lot of signed books were found.

These are only a few things on the growing list of special items for sale this year. A full list can be found at boothbooksale.org right before the sale starts, but the Friends is currently drafting the initial list to be posted online soon.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.