ACL prepares for fall book sale
First Posted:
The Friends of the Abington Community Library will be hosting the annual fall book sale at the United Methodist Church in Clarks Summit from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Over the years, the sale has not only exposed those in the community to books they might have otherwise never have read, but in a way it also gave the library their current director.
“It’s a funny story,” said Abington Community Library Director Leah Rudolph. “I was at the book sale when it was in the community room and a friend of mine asked me to join the Friends committee that held the book sales. I was on the board in 1999, I went back to school to get my degree (from the University of Pittsburgh) in 2001, got the degree in 2003, and became director in 2005.”
Leah went on to explain that people of all ages come out to support the book sale by either purchasing or donating books. All books are accepted into the book sale as donations. The only books discouraged are those that are moldy, have mildew, or are ripped. Encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest, and any video cassettes are also asked not to be donated.
“If you wouldn’t put it in your living room, don’t bring it to us,” said Leah.
It is also asked that book donations not be left outside of the library where the weather will diminish their quality.
This year there were so many donations that the library was forced to ask those interested in donating to wait a few weeks and bring the donations in for the spring book sale. The preparation for one begins shortly after the other.
The Friends of the Abington Community Library meet about three months in advance to begin discussing the sale and doing what is necessary to bring the annual event back every time.
Although the Friends of the Abington Community Library run the sale, outside volunteers are encouraged to join also. One volunteer Leah is especially grateful for is Jim Kalp.
Kalp has been a primary volunteer for about eight years. He spends about four to six hours a week sorting all of the donations by hand.
