Bemidji Public Library collects 15,000 books ahead of its annual book sale

BEMIDJI – Except for a brief interruption during the coronavirus pandemic, the Bemidji Library Board has hosted its annual used book sale for more than 35 years.

Since its launch, the process of raising funds and volunteers has become a well-oiled machine, while sales continue to expand.

“We serve hundreds of people who come to this sale from all over, even from Duluth and a lot of people from Walker,” said board member Nancy Erickson, “so this is a really good thing for the community.”

This year’s sale will be held June 24-27 at the Evangelical Free Church, 115 Carr Lake Road SW. A special presale event for members of the Friends of the Bemidji Public Library will be held Monday, June 24, from 4-7 p.m. Those who are not yet members can register at the door for a small fee.

“Our Friends of the Library have contributed an additional amount that goes to the library and funds various departments,” said board president Heidi Johnson. “The Friends also run the used book store that we have in the library.”

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the sale is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is free. Most books sell for no more than $1 on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the exception of vintage books that may be priced as a set. Thursday is what’s known as “bag day,” when shoppers can fill a bag — provided at the sale — with books for $2.

Only cash or checks are accepted for sale.

The used book sale has long proven to be a community effort, as the library receives book donations throughout the year.

“People bring books to the library and we have a team that goes through them all,” Johnson said. “They sort them by whether they can be sold in the library’s used book section or whether they should go to the book flea market. Newer books go to the bookstore and old books can be sold on eBay for a higher price than they would fetch in the bookstore.”

All books reserved for sale will be kept in a 5.8 x 6.1 meter storage room until June.

“By the time it goes on sale, we’re talking about 10,000 to 15,000 books,” Johnson added.

Pioneer archive photo

A particular priority is to attract eager bookworms to sell, as unsold books may be destroyed.

“Sometimes someone will volunteer to take a truckload of books to Akeley because they have a used book store there,” Erickson said. “Otherwise, at the end of each sale, we start over for the next year and collect a whole new load of books.”

Not only is the sale an eye-catcher for shoppers, it is also supported by volunteers who are needed to unpack boxes on Monday, June 24th from 8am to 12pm.

There are also three-hour time slots available for volunteer cashiers on Monday. On June 25, 26 and 27, there will be two-hour cashier shifts from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ideally, sales will be supported by four to six volunteers per shift.

Additionally, volunteers are needed on Friday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. to pack up and haul away the remaining books. Volunteers who help with the cleanup can take home unlimited free books for their work during this shift.

Erickson praised the Evangelical Free Church for its cooperation in organizing the sale, as handicapped access and parking availability were in place.

“It’s hard to find a place that has adequate parking and is easily accessible,” she said. “They’ve been very accommodating and we appreciate that.”

Since 2015, sales have raised nearly $48,000. Last year alone, sales totaled $6,259.

“Remember, the books are only $0.50 to $1. So that’s a lot of money and we have a huge selection of books,” Johnson said. “Everything you could want in the written word.”

The profits will be used to cover expenses not provided for in the budget of the City of Bemidji or Beltrami County Library.

“Whatever the library budget does not provide, the library board can finance with the funds we have raised from book sales,” Johnson added.

Profits have been used in the past for programming, a camera surveillance system, pandemic-specific inventory, and replacing broken supplies.

In addition to selling books, the library is looking for offers for a renovation project, for which there is currently no estimated completion date.

“We want to repaint and recarpet the library, and that’s a huge project,” Erickson said. “Our interest is not just in the books themselves, but in the building. We want to preserve the building and make it a pleasant and comfortable place for people to come, relax, read and learn.”

Erickson has been involved with the library for more than 20 years and has served on the board of the Kitchigami Regional Library System, which represents five counties and nine cities across Minnesota, including Bemidji. She has also served as the Bemidji Library Board’s representative on the city council.

“I was kind of initiated into it,” she said, “and my interest just grew.”

A friend recruited Johnson to serve on the library board after he had already gained experience in a local book club.

“The friend said, ‘Man, I see you’re interested in reading. Maybe you’d like to be on the library board,'” Johnson recalled. “I was looking for something I could contribute to the community as a retiree, and I love the library.”

As the two continue to pursue their passion, they emphasize the many benefits that libraries and reading offer to all who take advantage of their opportunities.

“Our main goal is to encourage reading for children,” Erickson concluded. “We want it to be a good experience. That’s why I’m on the library board, to specifically encourage reading for children and to provide a good library experience in general.”

For more information, contact the Bemidji Public Library at (218) 751-3963.