It’s a book lovers dream. Thousands of books are spread out for perusal, and they are all for sale at remarkable prices. This dream will become a reality next week as the Friends of the Patterson Library host their semi-annual Book Sale on Tuesday through Thursday, April 22-24. The sale will be open each of those three days from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Bookworms can find hundreds of paper backs for fifty cents each. Scores of hardback books are also available for one dollar a piece. There are books on history, science, and technology. You will find hundreds of novels by bestselling authors. Biographies are plentiful as well as self-help books on dozens of topics.
If you are a parent looking to build a library for your children, many children’s books are conveniently sorted on separate tables for you and your children to browse leisurely. The children’s books are priced at fifty cents for hard backs and twenty-five cents for paperbacks. Parents will find books appropriate for toddlers, children, and teens. There are picture books, first readers, and award-winning teen novels. In addition to the books, families can pore over a good collection of CDs, DVD’s, and puzzles of different difficulty levels. These items are all one dollar each. Gay Girard, Vice President of the Friends of the Patterson Library, told the Irrigator, “We have a lot of new materials that have come in and the prices are fantastic.”
The Friends of the Patterson Library is a non-profit charitable group of volunteers which are separate from the Patterson Library. Their stated mission is “promoting the library’s welfare and growth by enriching its resources with their time, talents, and fundraising.” This year, the sale began accepting debit and credit cards in the interest of convenience. To use these cards, there is a minimum charge of five dollars plus a 3% convenience fee. The book sale has also recently added a donation jar on the cashier’s table.
While Stanislaus County covers the cost of the buildings and staff for the Patterson Library, most of the funds that pay for library programs come from the Friends of the Patterson Library nonprofit organization. When the first Python Ron reptile event was booked up this year, these funds were able to pay for a second presentation so a whole new group of children could attend. The Friends of the Patterson Library also purchased the Nintendo Switch which has been used for Nintendo Switch Parties at the library. The Friends also cover STEAM projects along with other arts and crafts projects. They support the Day of the Children (Dia de Los Ninos) which is a fun day of story time, crafts, entertainment, refreshments, and a complimentary book for each child. The semi-annual book sales are the only fundraisers that are held by the nonprofit each year. They also raise money through donations and memberships. Annual memberships are $10 for an individual and $20 for a family. A lifetime membership can be purchased for $150. Friends of the Patterson Library President Marcie Homer said, “Community members can also donate gently used books for use in the book sale by bringing them to the library during business hours.”
The sale will be held at the Patterson Library which is located at 46 N. Salado Avenue. If you have any questions, you can contact the library at (209)892-6473.
To reach Timothy Benefield at the Irrigator call (209)892-6187 or email timothy@pattersonirrigator.com.