Community Corner
Library Opens the Barn Door to Let the Books Out
Friends of Frankfort Public Library District holds its first Barn Book Sale, selling titles for less than a dollar as a way to move an overflow of donations.
What happens when a library has too many books it doesn't know what to do with?
If it's the Frankfort Public Library, then it organizers a "barn-burner" of a sale, so to speak.
This weekend, the library will hold its first Barn Book Sale, selling more than 3,000 titles for less than a dollar each from the barn that sits on the library premises. Adults and children’s books will be 25 cents for paperbacks and 50 cents for hardcovers.
Find out what's happening in Frankfortwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A variety of specially marked antique and collectible books also will be available, and customers who buy 12 books—any kind--get the 13th free. All proceeds will benefit the library.
“We wanted to keep it simple,” said Helen Engemann, book sale chairwoman, “and we didn’t want to mess with counting change.”
Find out what's happening in Frankfortwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Although the library continually sells used books, officials were still being inundated with donations and were looking for creative ways to move them.
“We don’t have much space inside and donations were coming in hot and heavy,” Engemann said. “So we talked about what we else could do.”
At first members of Friends of the Frankfort Public Library District donated surplus books to local adult literacy programs and veteran’s organizations. But there were still many books left.
“So we decided to try this,” Engemann said.
A crew of 20 volunteers have been working to prepare the books for quick sales. One committee member, an expert in vintage books, is researching old titles online for fair pricing. Any leftover books will be donated to charitable organizations.
Those wishing to work the sale must be a member of the Friends of the Frankfort Public Library District. This group is self-funded and staunchly dedicated to the library’s well-being.
“All the money we earn goes to the library,” Engemann said. “We’re an all-volunteer organization. We have no administrative costs and no overhead. Nothing comes out of taxpayers’ pockets.”
Past projects include purchasing the entire digital theater system for classes and author presentations, several laptops and the lighted glass display case by the front door.
How much does Engemann hopes the book sale raises?
“Oh, a million dollars,” Engemann said, laughing. “We don’t know. This is so new to us.”
Frankfort Public Library Barn Book Sale
When: 4-6 p.m. Friday, April 15; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, April 16; and noon-4 p.m. Sunday, April 17.
Where: Inside the storage barn on library property at 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road.
How to join: Membership fees for Friends of the Frankfort Public Library District are $10 (individual), $15 (family), $25 (associate), $50 (sponsor) and $100 (corporate).
More info: Call 815-469-9307 or go to the library's website.
