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After two years without a book sale, the Friends of the Library are excited to bring their largest book sale back to the community. There are over 50,000 books and hundreds of puzzles, CDs and DVDs for sale. For the first time, the book fair will be held in the Covington school building. The Friends of the Library rent space there to store the books throughout the year, and because of the number of books and items, this year the fair is conveniently set up in the large gymnasium of the school.

The Book Sale starts at 10:00 Saturday, April 23rd until 5:00. The St. James Caterers will have lunch available that day. Sunday hours are also 10:00 to 5:00. April 25th through 29th , Monday through Friday, the Book Sale will be open 10:00 until 7:00. Saturday, April 30th the hours are 10:00 to 5:00. The Ladies of the Covington Church of Christ will have a lunch available that day.

Tuesday, April 26th all teachers get 10% off their purchases. On the last day of the sale, Saturday April 30, it’s “Bag Day”! Pay only $5.00 for a full bag of your choice of books. Mansfield’s Fourth of July Committee will have a beautiful hand-made quilt on display all week with raffle tickets available. All proceeds from the raffle tickets will go toward the fireworks for the July 4th celebration in Mansfield.

Alice Gottschall, member of Friends of the Library, explained that when an item is donated for the Book Sale, it is thoroughly cleaned with 70% rubbing alcohol, priced, boxed and stored in the library to await the annual sale. In the past, U-Haul trucks were then rented to transport all the books for the sale from the Library to the Presbyterian Church in Mansfield where the sale was held. They would also enlist Mansfield University student s to help carry the heavy boxes of books. This year, the new storage location in the Covington School made set-up much easier. The new location will also provide extra parking and gives more space inside for shoppers.

The Book Sale is the largest fund raiser each year for the Friends of the Library with all proceeds going to help the Mansfield Free Public Library. Currently, the organization is raising money for the repair of the front steps of the Library. They also help in maintaining the landscaping and will be assisting with new computers. The Friends of the Library just co-hosted with the History Center the two standing-room only lectures about the history of the Corning and Blossburg Railroad/Tioga Division of the Erie Railroad.

The Friends of the Library invites interested people to their meetings the first Wednesday of the month at 5:00 in the downstairs of the Mansfield Free Public Library, 71 North Main Street. The organization sends out a newsletter that shares upcoming programs and events. To receive the newsletter, call Fran Garrison, Interium Librarian at 570-662-3850.