Booking it: Annual fundraiser floods War Memorial Building with books, book lovers galore
SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Friends of the Shepherdstown Library (FOSL) have been getting back to work recently, allowing COVID-19 concerns to take a backseat to their supportive efforts for the Shepherdstown Public Library. Over the weekend, FOSL could be seen raising funds for the library, by welcoming book lovers to its annual book sale.
Two floors of the War Memorial Building were filled with tables bursting at the seams with all kinds of books. Genres of all sorts, for all ages, could be found and obtained at the sale for a nominal fee.
Thank to the weekend’s beautiful weather, the sale saw an increase in shoppers, gathering boxes of their favorite reading material or to try out new authors.
FOSL President Rob Sisk expressed his excitement for FOSL to be back to offering the annual book sale to the community and earning funds for the library.
“It’s a big one this year,” Sisk said, referring to the sale. “The community is wonderful for donating so many books and then for purchasing them as well.”
“We have many needs for the new library. We work with the library staff and see what their needs are and work to help them,” Sisk said of his volunteer organization, which has been in existence for several decades.
Currently, FOSL has approximately 70 members, but the group is always looking for more to join.
“We are always looking to grow our membership,” Sisk said. “We have many people who volunteer, giving their time and giving of their financial resources. We are hoping with the new library that we will continue to grow membership and to be able to offer a lot of additional opportunities for fundraising and social gatherings.”
The new library, Sisk said, is currently under construction with the hope that the doors will open in late summer or early fall 2022. That opening will depend upon construction schedules and weather.
In speaking of the book sale, Sisk stressed that it isn’t all about fundraising, but even more so the importance of reading. The books that don’t sell are sorted for potential future sale possibilities, while others will go to a book wholesaler who will offer them to others.
Sisk specifically gave kudos to the Shepherdstown Community Club, for allowing the library to hold the sale in the War Memorial Building.
“We have a wonderful relationship with the [Shepherdstown] Community Club and are so thankful to them,” Sisk said.