The Jacksonville Friends of the Library, (JFOL) a non-profit that has held used book sales for fifteen years, announced its decision to terminate the popular sales. In a written statement, JFOL’s Joan Avery said, “Jacksonville Friends of the Library will no longer be sponsoring Book Sales. This has been an important way to support our local branch, but we no longer have a way to dispose of the books that don’t sell.”
JFOL had held sales since 1995, originally using profits to pay for extended library hours as well as other library materials. In a follow up with the Review, Avery noted that, “Since the library district bond issue was passed, the book sale profits were then used to fund programs for both adults and children, and to support the popular Summer Reading Program. And, we also paid for additional furniture.”
Typical sales netted from $900-$1100 per sale and attracted hundreds of buyers. However, Avery said disposing of unsold books is now the main reason for ending the sales. “We need to dispose of the unsold books after each sale because we don’t have room to store them in our storage unit. Books are taken there from the library, sorted, and boxed, and then delivered back to the library branch right before each sale.” In the past, she says, the Rogue Book Exchange picked them up and others were donated to Goodwill.
Another disposal option has also become untenable. Avery says the FOJL had been boxing and shipping unsold books to Better World Book, who would then sell through an online site. However, that entity is now requiring the library group to scan each book in advance of shipping, to determine if the book has any value online. Avery says, “Better World isn’t able to recycle unsold books as easily as in the past…and even if we had enough volunteers to do the required scanning, we would still have to get rid of the books they didn’t want.”
The Jacksonville Friends of the Library plans to remain intact, Joann Avery concludes, “and is now searching for new volunteers to step up and decide how we can continue to support our local branch.”
Interested volunteers may contact Joann Avery at mailjoanavery@charter.net or call 541-702-2114.