Wednesday was a big day for Sarah Westley, one she has been looking forward to for quite some time.
“This is my Christmas,” she said, a tote bag filled with books hanging from her right arm.
The Antietam School District librarian had nine similar bags waiting for her, and some empty ones ready to go. She walked slowly along the edge of a long table completely covered with young adult titles, looking for her next selection.
Westley wasn’t alone.
All around her, in three sprawling rooms inside the Berks County South Campus in Mohnton, eager readers browsed thousands of books sitting atop row after row of tables or on bookshelves.
Kimberly Patterson (left) and Sarah Westley browse for books during the opening day of the 2026 Berks Book Bonanza. (DAVID MEKEEL – READING EAGLE)
The same sight will be seen through the rest of the week.
That’s because it’s Berks Books Bonanza time. The annual five-day book sale kicked off today with an “early bird” session, where shoppers could pay $20 for early access to the sale until 5 p.m. The rest of the sale runs through Sunday with free admission.
The Book Bonanza is one of the largest book sale operations in the region, offering gently-used hardcover and paperback books, CDs, DVDs, puzzles and games at prices of $2 or less for general items. They also offer specialty materials and collectible books.
Proceeds are split evenly between the Friends of Berks County Libraries and the local branch of the American Association of University Women. Last year the sale raised about $80,000.
Westley said she loves that the money raised at the event helps local libraries and that it gives her an inexpensive way to stock the Antietam libraries she oversees.
“This helps add to the library collection,” she said.
Shopping with Westley was Kimberly Patterson, an Antietam Junior-Senior High School literature teacher who was looking to supplement her classroom library.
Antietam Junior-Senior High School literature teacher Kimberly Patterson was looking to add to her classroom library during the opening day of the 2026 Berks Book Bonanza on Wednesday. (DAVID MEKEEL – READING EAGLE)
“I’m looking for British literature,” she said. “But really anything I can supplement my classroom with.”
Both women said they were excited to see so many people interested in reading, with both pointing out that there was a significant line to enter before the doors were opened at 10 a.m.
“You’re really getting good value and flooding the community with literacy,” Westley said. “It’s hard to have a literacy-rich environment if you don’t have a community that supports it.”
One room over, Matt Amberman was looking to add to his personal library.
The southern York County man said he loves reading — mysteries and suspense in particular — and likes having a chance to pick up some cheap books.
Mike Amberman, of southern York County, checks out the selections during the opening day of the 2026 Berks Book Bonanza. (DAVID MEKEEL – READING EAGLE)
“It gives you a chance to try new books, new authors you might not otherwise try out,” he said.
Wednesday was the second time Amberman had been to the sale, having visited last year with his wife. He said he’s impressed with how well-organized it is and with the selection.
With one tote bag already full, Amberman was looking for a few more titles. He estimated he’d go home with 20 or 25.
“I’m a slow reader, so smaller books,” he said of his picks. “No 600-pagers.”
Amberman’s wife, Emily, was shopping two rooms away. She had already picked up a number of books — hardback fiction, paperback fiction, nature and romance — and had moved on to puzzles.
The books, the librarian in the South Eastern School District in York County said, were for herself. The puzzles were for her students.
Emily Amberman headed to the opening day of the Berks Book Bonanza on Wednesday to add books to her personal library and puzzles to libraries at schools in York County where she works. (DAVID MEKEEL – READING EAGLE)
“The puzzles are for the middle school and the high school,” she said. “I try not to spend too much on them because the pieces tend to go missing.”
Emily Amberman said she likes attending sales where she can pick up cheap books while rubbing shoulders with fellow readers.
“It’s wonderful to see so many people are reading,” she said.
The Book Bozanza will continue Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. On Sunday, shoppers can fill a bag with books for $5. That sale will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information visit berksbookbonanza.org.