Friends of Library Prepare for Weekend Book Sale

The public can buy books priced starting at $1 during the Presidents Weekend Book Sale from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the atrium outside the Ocean City Free Public Library.

The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library organize the book sale to support the library and literacy.

The volunteers hold book sales several times a year. Donated books and items are sold for a nominal price. Members spend many hours every week for four months before each sale checking and sorting the books to be sure they are suitable for selling.

Members volunteer to assist during the sale by collecting money, keeping the tables supplied with books, helping clients locate what they want and answering questions.

Some of the programs and activities include supported by book sale proceeds include: 

• Baby Bags — Materials are packed into individual plastic bags and delivered to the Maternity Department of Shore Medical Center. 
• Block Party — The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library man a table from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the semiannual block parties. The purpose is to make available good reading materials at a nominal price.
• First Day of Kindergarten — A gift bag is presented to each kindergarten child in the Ocean City School System. In the bag is a book, a box of crayons, pencil, sketch pad, bookmark, and tissues. Committee members purchase, assemble, and deliver the bags to the primary school. The goal is to encourage young students at an early age to enjoy reading.
• Read Across America — A grade-appropriate book is selected for every student in the Ocean City Primary School. The books are given to the children on Read Across America Day/Doctor Seuss’s birthday, March 2 (this year the event will be held, Friday, March 1). Members of the community participate in reading to the students in their classroom.
• Third Grade Parent/Student Reading Club — Each year, a third grade teacher in the Ocean City Public School conducts a Reading Club for 30 children and her/his parent(s) The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library purchase new books and replacements as needed. 

Non-Fundraising Activities

• Bulletin Board — A bulletin board in the Community Center is available for The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library use in posting notices and photographs of activities for the public to see. A visual record of The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library activities through 2012 has been collected and preserved in a scrapbook.
• Trees — Two trees in the hall alcove are decorated with the current calendar month theme.
• Author’s Luncheon — In October, The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library feature  a best-selling author. This is a joint effort with the Ocean City Free Library Board of Directors. The purpose is to promote The Ocean City Free Public Library by introducing a well-known author to the community.
• Author’s Tea — Each Spring, The Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library have a Tea at the Flanders Hotel that features a local author. The purpose is to promote The Ocean City Free Public Library.