| | Published September 3, 2008
| Lucrative "Friends" Anticipate Move
| | By Cathy Tyson |  | | Lafayette's Friends of the Library, from left, Doris Duncan, Kitty Locke, Melanie Reamy, Sally Bellenger, Diane Sasser, Charles Whyte, Nancy Whyte, Nancy Mills Photo Cathy Tyson |
"Are there any Kama Sutra's back there?" said Sally Bellenger with a wink and a smile, to a question about receiving steamy book donations. As Chairman of the Book Room she says, "We get all kinds of books."
It's a labor of love for the volunteers pictured above, many of whom have been coming regularly for many years, to sort and price donated books. A total of approximately 45 volunteers work on Tuesdays and Fridays, including book sale staffers who work two Saturdays a month. "We're lucky to have some very reliable people," said Bellenger. Book sales are scheduled for the first and third Saturday of every month.
The lighthearted, fun-loving atmosphere of the book room is perhaps part of the reason the crew is so dedicated. "I'd go crazy if I couldn't read," said volunteer Nancy White. "She's a crackerjack, our little historian," recall some of the ladies, of long-time volunteer, Pat Boyer, who happened to be out that day.
"To tell you the truth, I can't remember when I started, well - it's been at least twenty years, not all in this position of course," said Bellenger. Last year the "Friends" raised and donated $50,000 for the library. Keep in mind that popular fiction paperbacks are priced at $.50, trade paper backs are $2.00.
Over the years, money raised has been divided in half, with a portion going toward current use and half invested extremely conservatively. The "Friends" recently cleaned out their long term savings and made a whopping $750,000. donation to the new Lafayette Library and Learning Center Building Fund and $250,000. toward the new Joan Merryman Book Room.
Looking to the future, Bellenger anticipates a need for more volunteers for the Merryman Book Room, "we will definitely need to get people to fill time slots - whether it's once a month or weekly." Moving all of the inventory from their current location at the Community Center to the new facility downtown will be challenging, and is currently up for discussion.
Bibliophiles take note - the next sale is on September 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the book room, 500 St. Mary's Road. The last half hour, smart shoppers will pay only $5. for as many books as they can fit in a brown paper bag. Donated books always welcome. For more information, see website at www.lafayettefriends.org. |
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA