BOOK SALE NEWS
Summer has arrived! And with it has come some exciting news from The Friends. Lisa Burkarth, our President for the past six years has completed her term. ………and we are so pleased to commend her on receiving an award from the Friends of the Connecticut Library Association for her outstanding service!
Lisa has made a tireless personal investment to The Friends, exhibiting extraordinary leadership, creating a portfolio of successful fundraisers which both support the library and deepen the bond between the library and the surrounding community. She has turned potential into reality and has left an indelible mark on the volunteers and staff she has worked with. Congratulations Lisa!
We look forward to welcoming our new President, Michelle Dewey, who has been a part of our team for quite a while now. She will be a great leader, and as a next level baker, we will be combining more bake sales with our book sales!
All of the book sales and fundraisers The Friends do are for the benefit of the programs and services of the Essex Library. At our Annual Meeting, we were able to provide a check for $20,000 to Ann Thompson. A truly successful year!
Our focused sale for July will continue to be Biography, History and Maritime titles.
Please note our new policy for receiving donations. Please come to the outside door on the left side of the front of the library. A volunteer will greet you during the following times:
Mondays: 10:00-11:00 am
Wednesdays: 2:00-3:00 pm
Fridays: 9:00-10:00 am
Please be sure your donations are current and in very good condition.
Thank you for supporting The Friends of the Essex Library!
FAQs
Donations
We cannot accept:
- Books with mold or water damage
- Magazines (including National Geographic)
- Text books over 2 years old or marked up items
- Technology books/manuals over 1 year old
- Encyclopedias
- Movies, music, and audiobooks
- Books on business or health
When and where do I bring my donations to the library?
Effective June 1, 2026, a maximum of eight bags/boxes of book donations donations will be accepted only during the following times:
Mondays: 10:00-11:00 am
Wednesdays: 2:00-3:00 pm
Fridays: 9:00-10:00 am
Donations will be received by a volunteer at the Friends’ Room door located by the left side of the parking lot. Please do not leave any donations outside the door at any other time.
What happens to donations?
Donated items are screened for use by the library. If they do not go on the library shelves, they are sorted, priced, and put into categories for our book sales. We do not have a lot of sorting room so they go into category boxes in the order in which they arrive. Items that don’t sell during our sales continue their journey and are saved for subsequent focused sales or put on the Freebie cart near the library entrance.
Can I get a tax deduction?
The library will be happy to give you a form that thanks you for your donations but does not put a monetary value on them. Ask for the form when you bring in your donation items.
More questions about donations?
Other questions about donations – contact Peggy Tuttle at peggytuttle@gmail.com or Melissa Jacobsen at mbmj59@aol.com
What categories do you use for the BOOK SALES?
ART
BIOGRAPHIES
CHILDREN / YOUNG ADULT – including Board Books
COFFEE TABLE
COOKBOOKS
DIY – Crafts, Woodworking, Etc.
FICTION
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
GARDENING
HISTORY
HUMOR
LITERATURE / DRAMA – Short Stories, Essays, Plays
MARITIME
MISCELLANEOUS – Topics that do not fit elsewhere
MYSTERY
NATURE
PETS
POETRY
POLITICS
PUZZLES & GAMES
RELIGION
SCIENCE
SELF-HELP – Yoga, Philosophy, Psychology, Personal Growth
SMALL PAPERBACKS
SPORTS
TRAVEL
