Letter to the Editor: Thanks Community For Best Summer Book Sale Ever

To the Editor:

The buzz began when the tents went up in the heart of downtown and the green. The press and the Internet coverage accelerated. As the excitement grew, the crowds swelled. A favorite summer Weekend in Westport enjoyed by thousands who live locally and who travel from all over New England for the arts and books was appearing again. As the DMA Arts Festival celebrated its 38th, the Westport Library’s annual Book Sale in its 18th year opened with 650 patrons in line. Four larger tents than ever, plus the inside McManus Room, over 100,000 books, CD’s, DVD’s and Records, 313 volunteers and bearable hot weather contributed to a very successful book sale.

A sale four days long July 16-19 with a set up of five days only happens with the efforts of many people. Throughout the year on a daily basis, 40 volunteers sort, price, box and label over 4,000 cartons of books per year. For that reason, donations are accepted every day during library hours. It’s preferable to receive donations many months before a sale because we can then determine how large the tents need to be.

According to book lovers, the quality of our donated used books are what has made our sale known as one of the top three in Connecticut (the other two, Newtown, Southport). Yet, it is also the support we get from individuals and stores in our community. Many thanks to Stew Leonards (hundreds of milk crates for shelving); Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market (thousands of paper bags only); The Mathias and Jacoby families for shade tents (a must for July heat); Cheryl Scott Daniels ERA Select (the monthly use of their community truck); Parks and Recreation Department (snow fencing); Kowalsky Brothers; Torno Lumber; Police Department (extra surveillance); Fire Department (the safety of crowds and tents); the Gillespie Shelter (very hard working labor); and new this year, ice cream from The Farmer’s Cow of Lebanon, CT; Organic Juice Bottles: Planet Fuel of Fairfield; ice from Black Bear Wine & Spirit of Westport.

Who are the volunteers who decide to spend one to nine days with us in bristling heat setting up and selling? It’s our community which includes many organizations who gathered teams to help: Sunrise Rotary; Y’s Men; NCL National Charity League; SLOBS Service League of Boys; It’s individuals who heard about our volunteer need through their schools, churches, town organizations. It’s people who want community service hours. It’s kids looking for something to do. Our youngest volunteer age 9 when asked while he was volunteering what he was doing this summer, his reply was: “Well, this week is Library Camp!"

I hope he had as much fun as the crowds did perusing and buying. There was truly a sense that the library is a community center. Not only could you find great bargains, you were sure to socialize with acquaintances we only see occasionally… yes just at these kind of community events. Many had walked along the river from the library to the downtown art show… with refreshments and wonderful visuals! Be sure to mark your calendars for our next Book Sales in December and March or, better yet, peruse our Daily Sale Shelves for continuous bargains. All revenues help to enrich and support library programs. For updated information visit www.westportlibrary.org.

Westport Library Book Sale Committee Co-chairmen Mimi Greenlee, Suzy Hooper and Dick Lowenstein