Since March, volunteer lead Winnie Jones has been busy organizing donations and getting everything in place for the Big Spring Book Sale, which runs from May 26 to 28 at the downtown branch of the Barrie Public Library.
“It feels good to be part of this event and contribute to a worthwhile cause,” said Jones, who believes the library is an important part of any community.
Jones says libraries provide a vital social service by being open and accessible to all.
“Our city population has increased and the funds raised will go towards helping ensure the services keep up with the growing demand," she added.
Jones noted that libraries are so much more than just books.
“Libraries offer literacy skills, computer access and many other programs to everyone without a cost attached," she said.
Jones has fond memories from when she attended the library as a youth, and also of taking her young nephew to story times, craft days, and just sitting and reading with him.
“Libraries allow every child to have equal opportunity to know the joy of reading and access to things like computers, magazines, DVDs etc. that may otherwise not be available to them," she said.
An avid reader herself, Jones says volunteering with Barrie Public Library was a natural fit for her.
“Since I retired, I had some free time and was looking for a way to give back," she said.
Jones helps get the books ready for the sale by going through the boxes of donations to organize them and ensure everything is in good condition.
“It has been a pleasure to meet some of the dedicated library staff, and I look forward to meeting other volunteers who will be helping out during the sale," she said.
Katelyn Lees, who's the philanthropy and resource development specialist at the Barrie Public Library, said the upcoming book sale is almost entirely organized and run by volunteers
“We are so grateful for the investment of time, talent and energy that all our volunteers dedicate to supporting the Barrie Public Library," she said.
Lees is also excited for the return of the book sale, which was last held in the spring of 2016.
“This event has always been popular, with many readers finding new titles to add to their own personal collections and stock up on summer reads," she added.
Lees told BarrieToday that given such a large supply of items, this year’s sale will be a multi-day event featuring a very wide range of titles and items.
“These items were donated prior to the pandemic and are ready to find new homes," she said. "Don’t miss this opportunity to build up your summer reading collection.”
Attendees will also enjoy a treasure hunt experience where they can search through books, CDs, movies, and video games. The first 50 customers will receive a special library swag item as part of their purchase.
Customers should bring their bags or purchase a re-usable library bag for $2.
All proceeds from the book sale will help support the library and plan for future branches, as well as offer more ways for the community to discover new opportunities. These include the Library of Things collections, the Creative Spaces and other library programming.
For more information on the Big Spring Book Sale at the Barrie Public Library, click here.
