Calling all readers and book lovers! The Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library’s Book Sale is back this month for its second-to-last book sale of the year.
Mark your calendars for the week of Aug. 11, because once the doors open, it’s every reader for themselves.
Taking place at the Headquarters Library in downtown Fayetteville, located at 300 Maiden Lane, the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library’s Book Sale raises money for the Cumberland County Public Library system and gives back to the community.
Customers browse the wide selection of books at the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library’s Books & Brew pop-up book sale on July 11 at West Regional Library. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
About the organization
The Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library is a nonprofit organization incorporated in 1976 that supports “the library and its patrons through various activities and fundraising efforts,” according to its mission statement. The organization holds four book sales a year with thousands of titles at affordable prices.
The local organization is a member of the Friends of the North Carolina Public Libraries, a group aimed at strengthening and promoting public library systems through Friends of the Library local groups, like Cumberland County’s.
According to the American Library Association, there are Friends of the Library groups in many states, and they are all an important part of United for Libraries, “a national network of enthusiastic library supporters who believe in the importance of libraries as the social and intellectual centers of communities and campuses.”
These volunteer-led organizations play a vital role in supporting local libraries through fundraising, advocacy and community engagement. Their efforts help libraries expand programs, improve resources and reach more people every year.
With a warm smile, Dr. Belinda Wilkerson, president of the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library, welcomes visitors of the Books & Brew book sale and enjoys browsing the selection. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
Dana Mack helps pack up a reader’s new treasures at the Books & Brew sale. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
What to expect at this month’s book sale
Marili Melchionne is part-time operations manager of the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library and liaison between the nonprofit and the library. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
The August book sale will take place over the course of four days. On Monday, Aug. 11, it will open for an exclusive, members-only sale from noon-6 p.m. The book sale will then open to the public from noon-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, and from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17.
Marili Melchionne, part-time operations manager of the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library and liaison between the nonprofit and the library, said being a member costs $15 a year, giving access to perks, like accessing the members-only sale on Aug. 11.
“You get early access to our sales in August and November, and email notifications of upcoming sales,” Melchionne said. Community members can become a member of the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library easily online through PayPal or in person right at the book sale.
Rudy Clark, Book Sale co-chair, stands proudly among the shelves of books in the library. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
Rudy Clark, a co-chair of the book sale, said that all of the books available for purchase come from library discards or donations from the public.
“We rely on these donations,” Clark said. “Without these donations, half the room would be empty.”
Community members can drop off material donations at any of these eight libraries in Cumberland County: Headquarters Library, Bordeaux Community Library, Cliffdale Regional Library, East Regional Library, Hope Mills Community Library, North Regional Library, Spring Lake Community Library or West Regional Library. Large donations are only accepted at Headquarters Library.
At the sale, there is a wide variety of genres. From classic literature to “BookTok” — books trending on TikTok — favorites, from romance novels to mystery-thrillers and from military history to children’s books, this sale has everything shoppers could ask for, including cookbooks, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs and more.
While most books are priced at $1, there’s a bargain room where books are 25 cents each or five books for $1.
Labeled by genre, these mystery bags are stuffed with hand-picked reads, a fun way to discover something new. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
A sign displayed among the books highlights that most prices start at $1 or less. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
And on Sunday, Aug. 17, there’s another deal. In the bargain room, the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library will provide shoppers with a bag that they can fill with books and then purchase for only $1.
Frequent shopper and Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library volunteer of one year, Irene Rosa, said the Sunday deal is a “bargain for your buck” because approximately 10-15 books can fit in a bag and be purchased for a dollar.
Irene Rosa is a frequent shopper at the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library book sales, often leaving with many books to add to her ever-growing collection. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
“I definitely enjoy shopping here more than bookstores because, when you go to a Barnes & Noble or a different bookstore, you’re always going on a budget,” Rosa said. “One book could be 15-20 bucks. Not here. You walk in, and you know you’re going to spend $5 on five books, so it’s budget friendly.”
One thing that sets this sale apart is how it’s organized. It’s not like other book sales where shoppers are digging through boxes on tables. Instead, the books are on shelves organized by genre.
Volunteers work tirelessly for months to sort the books. They remove unsellable items, such as books with pages falling out or those that have mold, and put them in the recycling. Then they separate the books by genre, making it easy for shoppers to head straight to their favorite sections. Each volunteer works within their assigned section to organize and display the books in ways that make sense for the genre.
Surrounded by books, volunteer Rei-Launya Amsterdam explains that laying them out and sorting by category
helps her organize them efficiently. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
During the book sale, most customers leave with more books than they can carry. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
At the Books & Brew book sale, many customers come prepared with their own bags, boxes or totes to haul their heavy book finds home. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
Impact of the book sales
By coming to the sale, shoppers help everyone have access to the best public library possible: The money raised at the sale helps enhance services and programs the library provides that are not covered by Cumberland County, and helps expand access and offerings, benefiting the entire community.
For example, Melchionne said, the sales help support many events such as the Bridgerton Ball, Summer Reading Programs and even interactive STEM activities.
“The Friends have also helped make special features like the giant train table at Headquarters Library,” Melchionne said.
Another way the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library supports the community is by sponsoring grants like the Experience Passes program, which allows library card holders to have free, unlimited visits to certain local attractions for seven days until October.
“Libraries, public libraries, are very important parts of a community,” said Ann McRae, a Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library volunteer of seven years. “They provide equitable access to resources for anyone in the community, and The Friends helps to support that. The money we make from the sales goes to support this library, and that just helps the community in general.”
Ann McRae shows off a book in a series she’s currently enjoying, which is also available at the book sale. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
The ways that the book sale benefits the community go beyond the money raised from the books bought. The Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library even find homes for books that have been through several sales without being sold.
Valerie Driscoll, a co-chair of the book sale, says that any books that don’t get purchased get donated to the local Department of Veterans Affairs, the Lions Club, the Vision Resource Center, or get sold to used bookstores.
Valerie Driscoll, Book Sale co-chair, hauls boxes of books into the library, where each will be hand-checked and organized. Credit: James Throssel / CityView
“Books are kind of a dying breed right now,” Driscoll said. “We just love getting books into people’s hands.”
The Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library’s Book Sale is more than an event; it’s an experience every reader deserves. Whether shoppers leave with one book or several bags full, every purchase helps keep library services thriving for the community.
Come for the thrill of the hunt, stay for the incredible bargains and leave knowing the library’s mission to inspire and serve the community just got a little stronger.
Read CityView Magazine’s “The Back To School Issue” August 2025 e-edition here.