Book Sales

The sale of books is a fund-raising project for Friends groups in Ohio and across the country. For Worthington Friends, they are not only a major fundraiser, accounting for about 43 percent of annual revenues, but book sales also support library literacy and learning efforts and the library’s sustainability initiatives. Without a dedicated team of volunteers, our book sales would not be possible.

Ongoing Book Sales

Books are available for sale at all Worthington library locations. Displays are located in the lobby area of both Old Worthington Library and Northwest Library and to the right of Worthington Park Library’s entrance.

Books include children’s books, picture books, adult fiction and nonfiction and audio books. The prices of the books and other materials range from 50 cents to $2.

About 85 percent of the books on sale are from the library’s collections due to limited shelf space and new materials being continually added to the collection. Library staff consider a number of factors for “weeding.” For fictional materials, it includes publication date, last checkout date, number of copies in the lending system and physical condition. If a work of nonfiction is no longer accurate or up-to-date, it is removed from the shelf. The remaining books on sale are from books donated by library patrons and other community members.

Book Sale Events

In addition to the on-going library sales, the Friends also holds special sales four or five times a year at Old Worthington Library on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A special preview night is held exclusively for members of the Friends on Thursday, so they can check out and purchase the items before the public sale. Books and other materials during Sunday’s sales are even discounted.

Fictional books typically make up the largest category in the event sales, but biographies, history, large coffee-table books, self-help and how-to items are among the nonfiction books that are also available. Books are sorted by subject. There are also many books for children of all ages and graphics books.

Book Donations

The Friends organization accepts hardback and paperback books in good condition for book sales. Textbooks, magazines or Reader’s Digest condensed books are not accepted. Please do not donate books that are falling apart, lack covers or are musty or moldy smelling. Better to recycle them.

Donations are accepted at Old Worthington Library. Please place donations in the large blue bins located in the administration hallway on the west end of the building. If the bins are not present, storage space is at capacity and volunteers are not able to accept donations. For larger donations— more than three boxes— please call 614-807-2626 to arrange a delivery time.

Donations to the Friends Foundation are fully tax deductible. Ask for a form at the time of your donation. Please note that the Friends Foundation cannot value your donation.

Volunteers

The ongoing book sales and special event sales are run by volunteers, who determine their own schedule and the length of their shift. Some volunteers prefer sorting and preparing books for sales or stocking and replenishing the on-going sales. Others want to interact with patrons during the special event sales or to stage them.

There are also ways to volunteer that involve community outreach. In addition to sales, the Friends provides books to nonprofit groups or other organizations, including schools and churches, that make them available to individuals, children and families who don’t have access to these materials. Books are also provided to residents who display a public bookcase in front of their homes to promote neighborhood book exchanges. Volunteers provide coordination and make deliveries to these Little Libraries locations.

Want to explore being a volunteer for the various book-sale projects? Get started today.