Books Galore And More at Annual Livingston Library BookFEST

Friends of the Livingston Public Library's BookFEST is back again and this year there are plenty of new things to expect. 

The annual BookFEST will kick off on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 10 am to 8 p.m., and also be held on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and conclude Sunday, Oct. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. 

Members of Friends of the Library will have pre-public access to the sale on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m..  Memberships can be purchased at the door.

"Attendees look forward to our annual extravaganza where we offer more than 10,000 books and non-print items," said Friends’ board secretary Sue Cone. "They will continue to be able to get the great bargains and wonderful prices they have come to expect.  At the same time, we have added some new elements.”

In addition, on the last day of the sale, patrons will can either buy individual books at sale prices or they can purchase bags for $5 each (or three for $10) and fill them to the brim. This dual purchase option has been introduced this year.

In response to public feedback, the sale will be held on one additional weekday.  Cone explained that this gives people the opportunity to shop at night. Friends has also extended the time available to members of Friends who receive pre-public access.

The book sale will continue to offer patrons sorted and categorized books. 

“Our volunteers have been sorting all summer so browsers can easily find their area of interest” said Cone.  

The sale offers some twenty different categories, including: children’s, teens, adult general fiction, romance, mysteries and thrillers, and science fiction/fantasy.  

Non-fiction categories include: self-help/parenting, biography, history/culture, cooking/food, crafts and hobbies, the arts, sports, religion, Judaica, science, humor, travel, classics, and poetry/short stories/plays.

This year BookFEST will offer a separate category for business. 

In addition, the sale has added dime novels and other .10-cent reads.

“This feature was introduced during the summer sale with great success,” said Cone, referring to the .10-cent reads.  "Friends is very excited by a large collection of books on flower arranging and design.”

BookFEST also a wide selection of DVDs for children and adults, including some full seasons of TV shows and recent movies, audio books, music CDs, LP record albums, and paintings.  

Friends will also offer free books on cassette and VHS tapes, including children’s tapes — while supplies last.

Friends is accepting book donations which can be brought to the library anytime during library hours, however, text books, VHS tapes, and cassettes cannot be accepted.  

Donors can obtain a tax-receipt. Friends is also looking for adult volunteers to help staff the sale.