Visitors to the Barrie Public Library don’t typically come expecting to spend money to get a new book, but that was not the case this weekend.
With a lineup lineup weaving its way from the doors of the Angus Ross room, through the lobby of the downtown branch and past the reception desk, the library’s first ever fall pop-up sale was looking like a success, acknowledged Katelyn Lees, philanthropy and resource development specialist for the library.
“It’s organized by our volunteers and it’s a healthy blend of community donations as well as some weeded materials from our collection throughout the last few months. It’s a big one-day sale where the community is invited into our downtown branch for a treasure hunt experience if you will,” she said, adding they’ve been hosting a similar event in the spring.
“With our Spring multi-day sale we do get quite a line up (but) We weren’t sure what to expect with this one. The community certainly loves their library and they love to show up for the book sale and we love seeing the support.”
Barrie resident Megan Malacki considers herself a pretty avid reader and said she wanted to come out and support the local library.
“I wanted to check out what they had in terms of adding to my own collection,” she said, telling BarrieToday she typically enjoys romance novels. “I am just here browsing but mostly to support the library.”
Thousands of books were up for grabs before the doors opened at 10 a.m. ranging in cost from fifty cents up to $3 dollars for some Blue Ray disks, and books were categorized by softcover and hardcover, with a few sub-categories to help sort cook books, crafts and hobbies, travel as well as a large children and youth area, said Lees.
“All of the proceeds from today’s sale go towards the Barrie Public Library’s future branches campaign,” she added.
The library's previous multi-day Big Spring Book Sales have raised over $4,000 in 2023 and $5,000 in 2024, respectively.
