Albany Library book sale offers 50-cent books, rare finds

The all-volunteer Friends of the Albany Library hosts its fall book sale this weekend, offering thousands of titles alongside puzzles, records and other items.

The Community Center Big Room will feature fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, science fiction, children's books, foreign-language titles and more, with additional offerings in the Edith Stone Room inside the library.

The sale takes place Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7-8, at the Albany Community Center, 1247 Marin Ave.

Most books cost 50 cents. Holiday books, including Christmas and Hanukkah titles, and jigsaw puzzles start at $1.

The puzzles are either new or have been completed and checked by volunteers to ensure all pieces are included, said Marsha Skinner, a past president of the group. Skinner organized the sale for many years but took a backseat on this one.

The sale also includes CDs, DVDs and vinyl records. The Edith Stone Room will feature rare, collectible and vintage books, book sets, some foreign-language titles and vintage magazines, along with puzzles and records. Items in that room start at $1, with some collectibles priced higher.

The Edith Stone Room will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The Big Room will have the same Saturday hours and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Cash and checks with matching identification are accepted. Major credit cards are accepted for purchases over $3. Venmo, Zelle, Chime, Google Pay and Apple Pay are not accepted.

The sale is one of several ways Friends of the Albany Library raises money to support the local library.

Skinner told Albany Scanner that the group works with library staff each year to identify programs and services in need of funding.

"The library gives us a request for the coming year, and we agree to funding," she said.

The volunteer-run, nonprofit organization contributes nearly $50,000 annually toward library programs, events and materials, according to its website.

Funding supports a wide range of activities, including baby and toddler singalongs, children's and teen programs, craft and origami workshops, chess instruction, storytimes in Hebrew, Tibetan and other languages, music and performances, book clubs and community events.

Friends of the Albany Library also helps fund special programming, including Albany Reads, the Albany Comics and Fandom Expo and events during United Against Hate Week.

This year, the Friends helped pay for programs centered on the book The Poet and the Silk Girl and funded a Vivarium show at Ocean View Park, Skinner said.

The organization also purchases art supplies and reimburses library staff for program-related expenses, such as snacks and materials.

Beyond library programming, the group donates books and magazines to Albany schools and the Friendship Club after-school program. Unsold books from sales are also donated to local nonprofit organizations and Bay Area teachers.

Friends of the Albany Library operates year-round, collecting donated books for its sales, maintaining an ongoing book sale shelf inside the library and selling selected books and collectibles online.

While the group accepts book donations year-round, donations are paused until Dec. 1 due to the fall sale.

Residents who wish to volunteer at the sale can reach out to friendsalbany@yahoo.com with their availability. Teenagers are especially encouraged to volunteer for setup and cleanup, but cannot serve as cashiers, Skinner said.

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