In an outcome that has astonished and thrilled Lithgow library staff, the recent three-week long book sale cleared 9500 volumes from storage.
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On the opening day of the sale, on September 19, more than 3000 volumes walked out the door for 50 cents each.
“It wasn’t quite a Boxing Day sale, but we had people peering through the window trying to see some of the tables and a line up of about 20 people waiting at the door,” Lithgow Library's acting coordinator Sharon Lewis said.
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Anything art and craft related was immediately snapped up, as were bound copies of National Geographic. One man stacked hundreds upon hundreds of literature items up behind the counter, taking home approximately 500 titles.
“There were lots of happy faces, everyone found a little treasure here and there,” Mrs Lewis said.
“There’s something sentimental about old books – something precious, maybe.”
At 50 cents each, the event was a nice earner for the library as well.
The last mass book sale was held at the Union Theatre prior to the library’s move to its present location. Mrs Lewis said it was also very popular.
The clearing of the library’s storage area will be complete on October 30, with the removal of the current storage system. New archive shelving will be put in its place, with the space to be dedicated to the ever-growing local studies collection.
The library receives and archives many items on the Lithgow district's history and storage will not now be an issue… for the short term at least.
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