Did you know: The day after one book
sale ends, we start working on the next one.
The lifeblood of our book sales is your donations. When you visit the library, you may notice a
collection of boxes and bags in the lobby, next to a bin. Something like the picture here. Although it may seem daunting, we dig in and
look for those hidden treasures that make our sales successful and allow us to
support so many library and community activities. Here is what the George Mason Friends do after you drop off your donations: First, we check them for condition. Next, we sort them into the many categories you see laid out at every book sale. Volunteers price the books and pack them for storage until the next sale. They have developed expertise in what book sale customers want and what a fair price is for used books in their categories.
We are always on the lookout for titles that the library can add to its collection. Library staff provide us with specific titles that they need, and a list of titles that are in high reader demand. In addition, we give the system copies of books that can replace those in poor condition. Finally, we share surplus books with schools, local charitable organizations, and other Fairfax County Library Friends groups.
In addition to our twice-a-year book sales, we maintain an Amazon store to sell selected books all year round. See http://www.amazon.com/shops/GeorgeMasonFriends.
In these ways, we strive to make the best possible use of your donations to support numerous library projects and activities at George Mason Regional Library, in the community and throughout the Fairfax County Public Libraries. We sincerely appreciate your generosity!