ALLIANCE ‒ Each August, like clockwork, book hunters from around the country flock to the Friends of Rodman Public Library Used Book Sale.
This year’s sale − which runs through Aug. 6 − is no exception.
Buyers from Iowa, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Wisconsin had stopped in by Aug. 4, according to Barbara Burley, president of the Friends of Rodman Public Library.
The annual sale is an official event of the Greater Alliance Carnation Festival and is held at The Alliance Commons at 405 S. Linden Ave.
The sale features at least 10,000 hardback and paperback books, along with CDs, DVDs and records. It also has raffle prizes, including a lottery basket. The sale raises funds for the library and other activities.
Prices for books and other materials are dirt cheap.
For example, paperbacks are 50 cents apiece. Hardbacks are $1, and children’s books are 25 cents, or five for $1. All movies or music items are $1.
The final day of the sale − Aug. 6 − will be easier on the budget. Purchases are by donation only, no matter how many books or items buyers want to take home.
Burley, a retired teacher and an organizer of the event for the last 22 years, said the sale feels like a family reunion between volunteers and buyers.
“I see people that I’ve had their kids in school when I taught and we catch up,” she said, “and some kids that came with their parents to shop now volunteer.”
One of the nearly 100 volunteers helping with the sale was 16-year-old Gianna Phillips, a junior at Alliance High School.
Phillips said this was her second time helping out. She learned about the sale last year from her principal, and asked to come back.
Phillips participates in the school’s Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership chapter, and the book sale helps her earn service hours.
“I just love helping out the community. I just love helping out people and being involved. It brings me joy,” Phillips said after she helped a buyer locate a book.
Jo Dietz of Alliance was shopping on Aug. 4, perusing the numerous tables of books inside the old gymnasium at The Commons.
Dietz rarely misses the book sale. “It’s sort of like Christmas in August,” she said while digging through cookbooks for vegan recipes.
Beloit resident Tyler Wutrick, who attended with his girlfriend, was looking for books. Wutrick had a box of used books in hand − a mixture of sci-fi and thrillers.
Wutrick said the pair have been known to make two trips to the sale − once at normal prices, and another on donation day.
“I really like it,” he said.
Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Friends of Rodman Library book sale has dirt cheap prices
