Blog

The annual event is sponsored by the Friends of the Neenah Public Library with the proceeds from sales going towards materials for the library and library programs. This year’s sale included several thousand books, CDs and movies. Some of the items were former library books being rotated out of circulation and many others were donations from local supporters of the library.

Especially exciting was the personal collection of Theda Clark Peters Smith, which was impressive in size, and special books on sale, including some early editions of classics.

I was not expecting the sheer size of the book sale, nor the low prices. For fiction, hardcovers were $1 and paperbacks were fifty cents. Talk about books on a budget! I could have spent hours in there and walked out with enough books to fill my car.  Luckily (at least for my budget), I arrived at the Neenah Public Library a little before closing time and was on a time crunch. I did walk out with five hardcovers and three paperbacks, though. They were all in fantastic condition and I spent a grand total of $6.50. That’s a value that is tough to beat.

Many of the local libraries have similar sales throughout the year. The Appleton Public Library’s Used Book Sale runs Nov. 13-16 and I will definitely be there. If you’re looking to build your collection too, be sure to check it out and be on the lookout for future book sales.

– Rachel Martens is a FOX CITIES intern who attends St. Norbert College. She published her first novel earier this year and is already working on her second book.