Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale Hits Second-highest Total Ever
September 21, 2022 — The Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale hit its second-highest total when the doors closed at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 18, grossing $169,284.90 and drawing shoppers from a four-state region.
“That total means this sale was our second best sale ever,” said Friends Treasurer Joyce Kastler. The record-high sale was $172,653.88 at its spring 2021 event.
The sale ran Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 14-18, at the E*Plex, Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, with a Tuesday, Sept. 13, Friends Night Preview Sale that saw $42,855.40 in sales in three hours.
The spring and fall book sales by the all-volunteer group features used books, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, games and puzzles donated throughout the year by the public and weeded from the collection of the Springfield-Greene County Libraries.
Since its first sale in 1985, the Friends have raised over $4 million for library projects, author events such as David Sedaris, concerts and children’s programs. Most recently, the Friends donated $173,202 toward the new 24-hour library kiosk, the Library Express East.
The public can donate used items at any of the 10 library branches during business hours. The next sale is April 26-30, 2023, with a four-hour Friends Night Preview Sale on April 25.