Flint Public Library to have biggest used book sale in its histo - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(10/23/12) - It's the biggest used book sale in the history of the Flint Public Library.

"We have over 30,000 books in all genres," said Wanda Harden.

We're talking thousands upon thousands of books straight off the library's shelves, while others were donated and collected, specifically for the sale.

"They're going for $1 for hard covers and 50 cents for paperbacks. On Saturday, you can get a whole grocery bag of books for $4," said Kay Schwartz.

This used book sale isn't just about books. There's cassette tapes, VHS tapes - Sixteen Candles, Animal House. In some sense, the Flint Public Library is taking us back to the '80s.

"We've got your vinyl records. We have classical music, we've got Smokey Robinson, we've got the Rolling Stones, we've got James Brown," Harden said.

Don't forget about DVD's and CD's either. The sale is part of major fundraising effort by the Friends of the Library. The goal for this week -- 8 thousand dollars.

"The library has lost a third of its revenue in the last three years because of the decline in Flint property value, so we need all the help we can get to be able to maintain the great programming we have here," Schwartz said.

That programming includes events like the holiday walk and the summer reading program and blues concert. Proceeds will also help the library buy new books and technology.

"Just the cost of the service called Overdrive which allows us to provide downloadable books for the public," Harden said.

The hope is that this giant sale will bring new visitors to the library, as well as those who maybe haven't dropped by in a few years.

"People always come in and say 'I didn't know you had that.' I didn't know you had 60 computers and classes to teach me how to use my e-book, my Kindle and Nook. There's all sorts of things that people rediscover when they come here," Harden said.

It all kicks off with a special sale Tuesday for friends and prospective friends of the Flint Public Library.

The sale opens to the general public Wednesday and runs through Saturday.

For more information, click HERE.