Community club gearing up for annual book sale

The annual book sale hosted by the Shepherdstown Community Club will be held on-schedule at the War Memorial Building, from Oct. 15-18. Toni Milbourne
SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Shepherdstown Community Club will hold its annual book sale this year, with a few COVID-19-related modifications.
All those hoping to find their favorite books or some new treasures will be required to wear masks when entering the War Memorial Building. The book tables will be organized to encourage a one-way shopping flow, and monitors will be stationed at the door of the building to provide hand sanitizer and masks to shoppers in need of one. Cashiers will be behind plexiglass to ensure their safety.
The sale, scheduled for Oct. 15-18, will follow its traditional schedule, with a Preview Reception on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission to the preview is $10 per person. SCC members may enter at no cost.
The public will be welcomed on Friday and Saturday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., as well as on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
At the end of each day, the facility will be treated by Germrid, an eco-friendly product that has been proven to topically eliminate any virus. It is a fogging distribution, yet does no damage to the furniture or the books.
SCC member Mike Austin is heading up the sale’s organization this year.
“We have been overwhelmed, in a positive way, with books from so many sources. There is an amazing selection coming from all quarters,” he said, estimating that the number of volumes will top 40,000.
The books on sale will be spaced out over both floors of the building, featuring a wide variety of topics. They will be generally divided into fiction and non-fiction, then further divided into categories, such as history, Civil War, gardening and cooking. Paperbacks and hardbacks are typically separated, as well. An entire area will be dedicated to children’s books, which has been one of the most popular stopping points for the sale, in previous years.
SCC members have been collecting books for the sale throughout the year and will continue to collect them until the sale opens. Community members can contact the club, if they would like to make a last-minute donation and even schedule a pick up.
According to Austin, SCC members take pride in the sale, which draws return shoppers year-after-year. The dedication of the volunteers is what makes the event such a success. Many hands make light work of the event; however, there is always a need for additional volunteers.
“We have been pre-sorting every Monday,” Austin said, mentioning the work will continue up to the week of the sale.
“Of course, part of the purpose is to raise money through the sale of the books — we need to maintain income. But, more importantly, we want people to become more interested in books and writing,” Austin said. “We want to encourage those in our community.
“We are hoping for a very positive experience through innovative ways that will not put anyone’s safety at risk,” Austin said, referring to the event’s social distancing safety precautions.
For those who would like to learn more about the sale, volunteering or donating, call 304-995-6689.