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Tony and Dottie Rizzuto, of Fort Myers Beach and Illinois, picked up a bunch of children’s books for their grandchildren at the Fort Myers Beach Public Library’s Giant Book Sale on Saturday. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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The Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Library organized a record-setting Giant Book Sale at the Fort Myers Beach Public Library. Friends of the Library secretary Jan Fleming (at right) sorts some books out during the sale. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Estero Island Garden Club members Rose Larkin (left to right), Sue Patton, Gail Jasionowski and Patty Feste sold plants at the Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Library Giant Book Sale. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Estero Island Garden Club members Rose Larkin (left to right), Sue Patton, Gail Jasionowski and Patty Feste sold plants at the Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Library Giant Book Sale. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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Estero Island Garden Club members Rose Larkin (left to right), Sue Patton, Gail Jasionowski and Patty Feste sold plants at the Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Library Giant Book Sale. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
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The anticipation for this weekend’s Giant Book Sale at the Fort Myers Beach Library had been building for weeks after the last one was postponed due to cold weather. The first Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Library Giant Book Sale since before Hurricane Ian in 2022 brought a rush of book readers to the library, eager to scoop up books from the library that had been retired as well as other books that had been donated.
Grown adults rushed out of the library with bags of books in each arm taking off for their cars as if they had just landed the best Black Friday deal after Thanksgiving.
This weekend’s book sale broke all previous records with more than $4,700 worth of books sold, Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Library Secretary Jan Fleming said. The Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Library organized the book sale. They also handled the gift shop at the library. With each bag of books going for $100 at the Giant Book Sale, than meant more than 400 bags sold, and thousands of books cleaned off the tables in the library’s garage sale.
“We set an all-time record for our book sale,” Fleming said.
The sale also included puzzles, CDs, DVDs, plants, baked goods, and gifts from the library’s gift store.
“The many volunteers who helped over the three days were amazing,” Fleming said. “It is so wonderful to live in a community where so many people step up to lend a hand to those who need help.”
Fleming gave a special thanks to the staff of the Fort Myers Beach Public Library “who went over and beyond to make our sale so successful. Another special thanks to our wonderful Fort Myers Beach firefighters who came out to help us unpack our books and pack them back up. Several of them came in when they were off duty.”
Through the Giant Book Sale and gift shop sales, the Friends of the Library give back to the library $20,000 every year to help with purchases for items the library needs, and to enhance the experience for visitors. The library was closed for more than two years after Hurricane Ian caused flood damage. Thousands of books, DVD’s, CD’s and other items were lost. Delays in getting the elevator repaired led to the library taking longer to open than usual. The library reopened last spring.
“We hope to do great things for the library this coming year,” Fleming said.
If you missed this past weekend’s sale, you get one more bite at the apple for the year. The final book sale of the year at the Fort Myers Beach Library on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29. “We will set up again starting at 9:15 on Thursday, March 26. With the same number of volunteers that we had this year, we will hopefully get it all done on Thursday,” Fleming said.