By Virginia Volkman, Library Director
Sedona AZ (May 12, 2017) – When the late Ethel Low donated a parcel of land to Sedona Public Library to build its current facility on White Bear Road, it included a house. Over the years the house has been rented to a number of groups. Recently the Library decided to make that space available for the Friends of the Sedona Library to offer books and other items for sale year-round.
May 15 will mark the grand opening of the used bookstore operated by the Friends. The bookstore is located at 3270 White Bear Rd., in the house that is adjacent to the main library. With renovations funded by a generous donor, the house now allows ADA accessibility for bookstore patrons. A separate parking area is reached by following the bookstore signs onto the unpaved driveway.
With the Friends’ book sale relocating next door, the space in the Library that the Friends have been using to sort and categorize books will be available for other uses. Parking lot spaces that have been occupied by storage containers to house books until the traditional week-long spring and fall sales will be freed up for much-needed parking.
In the new location, the Friends’ entire used book inventory will be available all year long for locals and visitors alike to browse and buy in a well-organized, retail style outlet. More than 30 categories of hardcover and paperback books, music CDs, movies, and much more will be available. Biographies, best sellers, cookbooks, romance, science fiction, and New Age titles are among the top sellers. As a nonprofit organization, Friends of the Sedona Library is exempt from the collection of sales tax, which is comparable to an additional 10 percent discount on already bargain prices.
The Charlene Lipka Room will house the largest display of books in the store. The room is named in honor of the long-serving Friends president and book sale chairman, who recently moved to California to be closer to her daughter. Lipka also initiated the Friends’ use of Amazon’s Marketplace for the online sale of limited editions and special collections of books.
The Friends have helped to support Sedona Public Library since its founding in 1958. Since 2002 alone, the Friends have contributed more than $1.5 million to support and enhance library services. This includes shelving, collection development, furnishings for the children’s room, public computer stations, automated check-out, laptops for Sedona Public Library in the Village, and other technology.
Revenues from used book sales have been an important part of the Friends of the Sedona Library’s success. The bookstore’s workforce is all volunteer, and its used book inventory is sourced entirely from donations. This means that 100 percent of the store’s net annual operating profit will be contributed directly to Sedona Public Library for the benefit of its patrons.
We encourage you to support the Friends of the Sedona Library’s new venture with either a purchase from the store or the donation of used books. Regular store hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The grand opening preview sale, for FOL members, library volunteers, and staff, will be on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, May 14, from noon to 3 p.m.
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