The reopening of the Friends of the St. Joseph County Public Library book sale will be held on Friday, March 23. With new expanded days and hours, the FOL Bookstore will now be open to the public every Friday from noon – 6:00 p.m. On First Fridays, the store will extend its hours from noon to 8:00 p.m. The book sale will continue to operate out of the FOL Building at 327 S. Michigan St.
Book sale customers will notice another dramatic change in addition to the extended hours—the new layout of the store. The space has been renovated to accommodate the new home of The Music Village, a local non-profit arts agency. The FOL book sale will occupy the northern portion of the building.
Despite the change in size and layout, book sale enthusiasts will not be disappointed by the quality of books available for sale. According to Mardy Grzegorek, who has managed the FOL Bookstore for 5 years, a similar selection of materials will be available within the smaller space, and the longer hours will allow for more turnover. She is “excited that we will be open once a week.” The changes in the space and hours grant the book sale the air of a comfortable community bookstore, which invites patrons to roam and browse.
Featuring withdrawn library materials and donated items, the book sale includes a wide selection of children’s, young adult, and adult books, audiobooks, magazines, CDs, and DVDs. Proceeds from the FOL Bookstore go to Library programs, author visits, early literacy initiatives, and community outreach.
Over 20 FOL volunteers work diligently to make the book sale a reality, and they have been working especially hard to get things back in order after the renovation. In the weeks leading up to the reopening, the store has been a bustle of activity, as boxes of books are unpacked and meticulously re-shelved. Many of the FOL book sale volunteers are former SJCPL staff members, who continue to serve their library even after their retirement.
Throughout the years, lines to get into the book sale have extended around the block, with hundreds of people showing up to browse its literary, music, and movie selections The sale’s popularity is clear from the number of questions Library staff have received about the renovation and the opening date from the public.
FOL book sale donations are always accepted. Drop off lightly used books, CDs, and DVDs to any SJCPL location during open hours. For questions about the FOL Bookstore, contact 574-282-4646 or library@sjcpl.org
