Berryville, Va. resident Holly Blevins, right, picks out a book with the input of her daughter, Shepherd University student Elliana Blevins, at the Legendary Book Sale. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Harpers Ferry resident Shyla Alam carried a teetering pile of books to the counter, ready to purchase some new-to-her books from the Legendary Book Sale.

For Alam, the sale may have not been what drew her to visit Shepherdstown, but it was certainly the thing that she knew would be drawing her husband and some of their friends to the town over the coming days.

“I actually just stopped in town to get some coffee from the Sweet Shop, only to see that this sale was going on, too,” Alam said. “The prices are unbeatable and the variety of books is exceptional.”

She was thrilled to hear that the sale was an 11-day event, as it would ensure more of her friends would be able to stop by and pick up some gently used books to take home with them.

“This is amazing,” Alam said. “I’ll tell all my friends.”

Book lovers browse through the stacks and shelves filled with books at the Legendary Book Sale. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Across the room, Berryville, Va., resident Holly Blevins could be found admiring a coffee table book, featuring some of the paintings of renowned American ornithologist John James Audubon. Her daughter, Shepherd University senior Elliana Blevins, was nearby, searching the stacks for some other rare finds.

“We’re looking for anything that stands out to us. We love the classics, we love art, we love poetry,” Holly said. “Anything historic or antique or aesthetically pleasing, we love — we just love pretty things.”

One reason they prioritized purchasing aesthetically pleasing copies of books, Elliana said, was because books serve a dual purpose today, since books can just as easily be read in an online format.

“To buy a book, I have to really be able to justify why I’m getting it. It has to be a good read and aesthetically pleasing, as well as well made. I want my books to be able to last a while, so the ones I’ve been looking at have been hardbacks with protective covers,” Elliana said. “The only exception to that rule would be if it’s an antique book that I might not be able to find a copy of again, at this price.”

Proceeds from the two-story sale will be used to fund the maintenance of the Shepherdstown Community Club’s two historic properties, the War Memorial Building and Morgan’s Grove Park.

Shepherdstown Community Club Treasurer Karen Kinnett, right, helps Shyla Alam, of Harpers Ferry, fill up a box with books that she had purchased at the Legendary Book Sale in the War Memorial Building. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

“There are between 4,000 to 6,000 books that are donated to this sale every year. That is a remarkable number,” said Shepherdstown Community Club Treasurer Karen Kinnett. “I credit the Shepherdstown community for the success of this sale, which has become one of our largest fundraisers, along with the Back Alley Garden Tour & Tea.”

Legendary Book Sale Organizing Committee Chair Jody Cullen noted that, although the club does benefit from the funds raised from the sale, it also uses the event as a way to give back to the community. Each child who visits the sale may pick out one book to take home with them for free. Teachers, with a valid ID, may fill a box full of books to share with their classes at no expense to them.

“We are providing a public service, while raising funds to help us care for these important properties in town,” Cullen said. “We want these books to be in circulation. We don’t want them sitting around, without being used.”