Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM AUGUST 16 - 22, 2023 UCW 13 Public libraries are an essential resource for communities. ey provide access to knowledge, in- formation, educational programs and community events that are open to anyone in the area. For these programs to take place, funding is needed. at's where the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Li- brary comes in. e Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library, Inc. sup- ports the library in fulfilling its lit- erary, educational, technological, community and cultural purpos- es. e programming the Friends have helped support in the past include author visits, workshops and other events bringing togeth- er community members. Upcoming events funded by the Friends include a writers work- shop with Kianna Alexander on Aug. 19, LibrariCon on Sept. 16, and a local author showcase on Oct. 7. "It's vital to the continuing of the library even existing, I think," said Marili Melchionne, the Friends of the Library Operations Manager. "Programs draw people into the library, and we provide educa- tional opportunities through a lot of the programs. e programs wouldn't exist if we didn't fund them, then people wouldn't have those resources," Melchionne said. e goal for the book sale is $10,000; however Melchionne says that during the last book sale, over $11,000 was raised. ere are four book sales a year and when the sale isn't happen- ing, hundreds of hours are spent organizing the books. e entire operation is volunteer-based. If you walked into the room on a non-sale day, you would think it was another room in the library. All the books are on shelves and are organized by genre. ere are books displayed at the end of the shelves, and books look like they are in great condition. e books are either donated to the Friends for these book sales, or are older books that the library needs to get rid of to make more space for newer books. In the weeks before a sale, the room is packed with volunteers. Kay Frazier, a retired elemen- tary school librarian, was sorting through the children section, scanning each and every book. She was a librarian for 22 years and decided to spend her retire- ment around more books. "I'm in my element and I love it. I would be here everyday if I could, but I can't," she laughs. "I like to get an accomplished feel- ing, and you aren't on any struc- tured schedule or anything like that." Even if you can't volunteer, the Friends relies on memberships. At the moment, they have 459 members, and the funds raised from memberships are part of the funds that the Friends give to the library. Members get early entrance to the book sales and also get first notice for any events coming up. People can become a member by going to cumberlandcoun- tylibraryfriends.com and clicking on "Join" but they need a Paypal account for the online payment. Individual dues are $15 a year. People can also become mem- bers at any library branch before the sale. Members of Friends of the Cumberland County Public Li- brary will have access to the book sale on Monday, Aug. 21, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. e book sale will then be open to the public from Friday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 27. e sale on Friday is 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday's hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday's hours are 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hardbacks books will be $1. Paperbacks and CDs are $0.50. DVDs and audiobooks are $1. Magazines will be 12 for $1. ere will also be bargain sales. ese items will be available for a major discount, $0.25 each or five items for $1. ere are also specialty items available for sale including an- tique books, puzzles, and home- schooling curriculum. ese items are individually priced. ere will also be mystery bundles sold for $2. ese bun- dles of books will be wrapped up with a description of the genre of the books. On Sunday, there will be a spe- cial sale where customers can get a grocery bag of books from the bargain room for $1. Cash, credit cards and checks are accepted at the book sale. "It's not at all unusual for peo- ple to bring boxes ... bring wagons and buggies. We love it when they do it. If someone wants to come in, and load up, come on down," Rudy Clark, one of the Book Sale Co-Chairs, said. e sale will take place at the Main Branch of the Cumberland County Library at 300 Maiden Lane. For any questions, visit cumber- landcountylibraryfriends.com or call 910-483-7727, extension 1304. COVER HANNAH LEE, Assistant Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Friends of Library host quarterly book sale by HANNAH LEE Kay Frazier, a member of Friends of the Library, organizes books on a shelf in preparation for the upcoming quarterly library book sale. Proceeds benefit library programs such as workshops and author visits. (Photo by Hannah Lee) Friends of the Library book sales offer hardback and paperback books, specialty items, CDs, DVDs and mystery bundles by genre (pictured above left).