The Caper Room in the Atrium on the Community Association’s Central Campus was filled to the brim for the SCC Library Book Sale on Feb. 6 and 7. Phyllis Hodges photos.
The annual Sun City Center Library Book Sale — this year on Feb. 6 and 7 — marks the finale of the library’s year-long collection process. About 50 people were lined up at the door on Saturday, waiting to peruse the thousands of books they knew would be neatly displayed on tables and divided into categories.
When it was all over, the group who had worked the sale came away with joy in their hearts as they recounted stories about people they had made happy that day. Many buyers were bagging books to be taken to their homebound friends and family, and one buyer filled five boxes for his sister who lives in a rural area with no library and no book store.
Westerns fans were treated to a wide selection of western-themed books, courtesy of a single donor. There were so many that they received a category all their own. (One man bought a few and came back for more, only to be disappointed when the section was empty.)
Then there were the people who were thrilled at the great buys they were finding. A new resident, who was a first-time visitor to the sale, came back four times; he just couldn’t believe the beautiful books people had given away and how low the prices were. A brand-new Bible was priced at $10 — the highest in the room — and the lady who bought it practically jumped up and down when she found it. Most hardback best sellers in like-new condition were $2, and many of the paperbacks went for 20 cents; prices were cut in half on Sunday
Bette Grunkemeyer pays for her three bags of books. She said she stocks up every year for herself and buys some for a friend. At the table is Sue McBride, left, a 15-year volunteer at the library, and Elaine Birkinshaw, SCC Library administrator.
The group that runs the SCC Library consists of the administrator, three part-time employees and 40-plus volunteers who work weekly half-day shifts. Norma Tuthill, who volunteered a few months after moving to SCC 25 years ago, has worked the same Friday morning shift for all these years (the longest of any other volunteer). She says she has stayed because it is “an enjoyable outlet.” She loves the camaraderie of the group and she gets to meet a lot of the interesting people who live here.
Library Administrator Elaine Birkinshaw said that donated books are stored in every nook and cranny throughout the year. She credits volunteer Pat Stillson for leading the sorting process. Books not needed for the library’s shelves are generally offered in the library’s sale room (yes, they do offer books for sale all year), sold to organizations that buy used books, or pitched if they are in very sad condition.
So what happens to books not shelved or sold? You may be surprised to learn that Goodwill has stand-alone book stores; the leftover books are donated to them.
This year’s sale netted just over $1,700 that will go toward library operating expenses. Primary funding comes from the Community Association, which offers the service free to CA members; Kings Point residents pay $24 a year. Due to the library’s heavy use and need for more space, it underwent a major expansion last year that added a computer room, meeting room and a reference/reading area — all paid for from the Community Association Capital Fund.
