NEWS RELEASE
FRIENDS OF GUELPH PUBLIC LIBRARY
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The Friends of the Guelph Public Library (FGPL) will be holding its 13th annual giant book sale Oct. 25-27. The event features more than 100,000 items consisting of books, videos, DVDs, blu-rays, CDs, vinyl, sheet music, audio books, games and puzzles. All proceeds go towards the Guelph Public Library.
“This is one of, if not the largest book sale in Ontario,” commented Virginia Gillham, Chair of the Friends of the Guelph Public Library. “A great deal of time and care goes into planning and preparing for the event, which shows in the organized layout and well-informed volunteers. Visitors will find it easy to locate those treasures they’re looking for and maybe find a few others along the way. We’ve received a record number of donations again this year, which has kept us busy. This may prove to be our most successful event yet.”
Donations have been accepted at the sale site and Guelph Libraries since Aug. 6. Oct. 8 was the last day to donate. Volunteers have been working hard sorting the donations and placing books in the appropriate sections. The sorting and organizing are still ongoing and will be finished just in time for the event.
FGPL is pleased that once again Joe Coffee will provide refreshments for weary shoppers. There is something at the sale for everyone, from over 18,000 children's books to vintage books and autographed books. For the 6th year an anonymous donor will provide every child under 14, accompanied by an adult, a coupon for a free book from the Children's/Young Adults section.
The sale will be at 69 Huron Street in Guelph, one block from the intersection of Elizabeth and Huron.
There is an early bird entry Friday, Oct. 25 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with an admission fee of $10. Otherwise, admission is free.
Oct. 25 from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Oct. 27 from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday most items are reduced to $1 each.
For more information about the book sale and the Friends of the Guelph Public Library visit fgpl.ca.
About FGPL
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library is an arms-length organization whose mandate is to support the Guelph Public Library. The annual book sale is the major fundraising activity for the FGPL. Income from the sale and other events over the course of each year are used to support various library activities, including:
- Lead gift of $10,000 to establish the Library’s endowment fund
- Cost of two pieces of library-related art
- New charging unit in the main library
- Supported the cost of internal fittings for the new bookmobile
- Matching funds for grant applications
- Supported children’s reading programs
- Program to provide library packages, including board books for each of the more than 1,600 babies born in Guelph every year
Most of the funds raised are invested and accrued toward a major gift to the Library in support of the planned new main library building. That sum is now more than $745,000.
The book sale has been an annual autumn event since 2007. The first sale was held in Old Quebec Street Mall. It lasted just one day and offered fewer than 20,000 books with a gross amount of $10,000 at the end of the day. Since then, each sale has been increasingly larger and more complex, but it has continually earned more funding and attracted more customers every year.
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