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Book sales

AT THE LIBRARY

Let’s talk about book sales. First of all, mark your calendar for our upcoming sales.

Juniata County Library: April 19 to 22 during regular library hours; early bird access for members of the Friends, 5 to 7 p.m. on April 1;

Mifflin County Library: April 26 to 29 during regular library hours, and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on April 30.

How do we get all those books, and other stuff, we sell at the book sale? Most of the books, puzzles, records, DVDs and magazines come to us through donations from the community. You might also find items that were removed from the library’s collection. What? Don’t you keep every book you purchase? The answer is a resounding, “NO!” If an item has not checked out for at least three years, generally, we weed it from the collection to make way for newer more popular materials. You know the old saying, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” It always amazes me that the person who won’t check a book out of the library will scoop it up at a book sale, considering the purchase a real find.

We, Mifflin and Juniata county libraries, happily (usually), willingly (most of the time) and graciously (all of the time) accept your donated items. However, we ask they be in excellent condition, free of mold/mildew and little critters, such as book lice and silverfish. We DO NOT accept sets of encyclopedias, National Geographic magazines, textbooks, Readers Digest condensed books, or VHS tapes.

I’m going to try to be nice, lest I am again accused of not being terminally perky and positive. If you are cleaning out a garage, attic, basement or barn that is not heated or air conditioned, please dispose of the books yourself. If you call the library and we tell you we don’t accept VHS tapes, don’t dump five boxes at the front door during closed hours.

Are you moving/downsizing and inclined to donate your home library to the book sale? It is helpful if you call us and arrange a specific time to bring in those 25 boxes of books. We can provide book trucks and dollies to assist you with unloading the boxes from your car. It also gives us the opportunity to designate a large space for our volunteers to sort the items. No, I’m sorry but we can’t come to your house, pack the books, carry them down two flights of stairs and provide a moving truck. Yes, I understand the Special Collections Department at Penn State’s Pattee and Paterno Library does that, but we are simply not able to accommodate a request of this nature.

When considering donating items to the library, ask yourself, “WOULD I BUY THIS BOOK/PUZZLE/MAGAZINE, ETC. IN THIS CONDITION?” If the answer is no, please put them in your own trash so our custodial staff and county maintenance can spend their time doing their job instead of hauling trash.

If I could make one final request of all you donors — please bring in your donations at least two weeks before the sale date so we have time to go through the items.

We do rely on donations for our book sales to be successful. We also appreciate all the book lovers who buy, buy and buy at the sales. I’ll also let you in on a little secret. You don’t have to arrive at the library at 7:30 a.m. on the first morning of the sale. We don’t open until 9 a.m. and you aren’t going to get inside any earlier.

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Dr. Molly S. Kinney is the director at the Mifflin County Library. She is currently reading “I’ll Be Damned: How My Young and Restless Life Led Me to America’s #1 Daytime Drama,” by Eric Braeden (Victor Newman). For Y&R fans this is a must read. Shout Out to L.R. — thanks for helping us update our biography collection with popular icons.

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