Volunteers have been hard at work preparing for Friends of the Hopkinton Public Library's annual book sale being held this Saturday and Sunday. Members of Friends of the Library will have the opportunity to purchase books an hour before the sale opens up to the public on Saturday.
"You can renew your membership, if you've let it lapse, or you can join at the door if you're not currently a member," said Nancy Baker-Fowler.
Customers who come on Sunday will be treated to something extra special as they will have the opportunity to fill up a paper bag with anything that fits for $5.
The money made from the sale is a vital part in helping to maintain the services that the library provides to residents.
"The Friends group benefits from the sale and then the Friends buy these wonderful things," said Adult Services Librarian Susan Marshall. Recent purchases include a pull-up screen for movies, book carts, a CD/DVD cleaner and repair machine.
"We have a huge selection of of really good, quality books this year," said Marshall. "A huge selection of science fiction, and even some gaming books."
HCAM News got an exclusive look at how the event is put together and was taken on tour of the library basement where the books are collected, stored and sorted. Books are sorted by Marshall and Baker-Fowler into categories including fiction, non-fiction, children's, science fiction and packed into boxes. Once boxed, with the help of some additional volunteers, the boxes of books, must be carried up the winding basement stairs to be set up on tables in the main library for the sale.
"It's quite a process," said Marshall, "but we love it. We wouldn't do it otherwise."
The sale runs from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and from 11am to 2pm on Sunday.
To help out with set up or for more information, contact Susan Marshall at the library at 508-497-9777.
