The Call Goes Out For More Books

And More Volunteers For 29th Annual Book Sale

By Jan Howard

The Cyrenius H. Booth Library is in need of more books and volunteers for its 29th annual book sale scheduled for September 4 through September 8 at Bridgeport Hall on the Fairfield Hills campus.

More than 160,000 books in 76 categories will be featured in the book sale.

Joyce Goldin, publicity coordinator and a new member of Friends of the C.H. Booth Library, urges residents to look through their bookcases for books they have read and to donate them to the library to be recycled to new readers.

She said people cleaning out a home should consider donating books to the sale. Books are accepted year round at the C.H. Booth Library on Main Street.

The last day to donate books for this year’s book sale is August 14. No magazines or encyclopedias are accepted for the sale.

Ms Goldin also urges residents to help out with the book sale. “Volunteers make the book sale successful,” she said this week.

Strong volunteers are particularly needed during the evenings of August 9 and August 23 at 7 pm for moving tables at Bridgeport Hall, she said. Workers are also needed during the book sale.

To volunteer, call Chairman Joanne Zang at 426-5413.

Many volunteers have been working throughout the year to prepare for the sale, sorting, pricing, and boxing donated books to make this one of the largest book sales in the northeast.

Keeping the sale “user-friendly” is the goal of volunteers. Shoppers will be given detailed maps to locate the 76 categories, including a new one on royalty.

According to coordinator Pete Stern, there are more than 100 titles in the royalty collection, which was expanded through donations from individuals and a private collection. The majority of the selections are biographies of British monarchs and other notable royals.

“The royalty collection will be located next to the history books,” Mr Stern said. “There will be some overlap.”

In one room there will be hard cover and paperback fiction, alphabetized by author and organized into subcategories including classics, mysteries, science fiction, and romance. In the nonfiction room, there will be a large selection of alphabetized biographies, plus other categories, including art, architecture, math, engineering, computers, history, cooking, gardening, children’s books, home improvement, travel, and others.

The rare book room is a special feature for dealers and bibliophiles. Hundreds of collectible books are also offered for sale. The collectibles include books that don’t fit in the rare book room, but which are desirable for qualities other than content, such as age and condition, pictures and illustrations, limited printing, or an especially good dust jacket.

The children’s corner features a carpeted reading area for kids. Thousands of fiction and nonfiction books are organized by type, reading level, and series for easy selection by parents, grandparents, and teachers. There will also be a large selection of paperbacks, the majority priced at 50 cents, as well as pop-up, board, and electronic books. Classics, such as Anne of Green Gables, Little House on the Prairie, and Star Wars, will also be offered. Collectible books include the much sought-after Harry Potter books.

The music room is growing in popularity, featuring records, tapes, and CDs. This section is also organized by type — from opera to jazz to rock. Classical recordings are sorted by composers.

Friends of the C.H. Booth Library numbered admission tickets for Saturday, September 4, will be on sale Friday, September 3, from noon to 9 pm, and Saturday, September 4, at 8 am at Bridgeport Hall.

Admission for adults on Saturday only is $10 from 9 am to noon and $5 from noon to 5 pm. Books will be sold at half price on Monday, September 6, and for $5 a bag on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the final day, books will be free.

Book sale hours are the same each day, from 9 am to 5 pm. Refreshments are available.

All proceeds benefit the library. For more information, call the Booth Library at 426-4533 or visit the website at www.biblio.org/chbooth/booksale.htm.