Williamstown Book Sale Offers Thousands of Selections

	Ginny Sheldon, left, and Susan Pike, co-chairs of this year's book sale, looke through their task list. Some 25,000 sorted books were ready to set out for sale.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Friends of the Williamstown Library are breaking down its annual book sale by the numbers:

• 25,000 tomes
• 147 hours of research
• 1,000 hours of sorting
• 42 categories
• 1.3 moving vans
• 25 annual book sales

Virginia "Ginny" Sheldon, one of this year's co-chairs, isn't quite sure what the total volunteer hours will be yet but she knows they'll be high once the two-day sale concludes on Saturday. But all that labor's for a very good cause: The David and Joyce Milne Public Library.

"It's important for us to do this," she said on Tuesday. "This library is a resource for every person in the community. ... Milne is a true community resource."

The Friends have been putting out books for sale for decades to raise some cash but the annual sale has grown to become a major fundraiser over the past 25 years, making up to 50 to 60 percent of the group's yearly revenue. Last year's sale brought in more than $24,000; its supplemented by membership drives and the sale of books throughout the year at the library.

That money goes to support summer programming, children's activities and needs the librarian may request.

Sheldon, who is totaling up statistics on the sale as part of book sale history she's working on, and co-Chairwoman Susan Pike, said the sale began 25 years ago as the once popular Smith College Book Sale disappeared.

The "Seven Sisters" alumnae held book sales all over New England; one for Smith's was run in Williamstown for many years.

"There were fewer and fewer of these and as that folded, the Friends got on a roll," said Pike.

It started in a tent because there was no room when the library was located in the Botsford House. The house was built by the town's library founder and purchased in 1941 and donated for use as a library by E. Herbert Botsford. In 1997, the library and house of history moved into its current location at the former Pine Cobble School.

The sale gradually outgrew that building and 10 years ago moved to the Williamstown Elementary School, providing more room for the sale's two other compenents: the silent auction and the Friend's Cafe.

The silent auction offers some of the best books in the sale — rare books, signed editions, arts books, pictorials and the unusual.

Jytte Brooks has been organizing the auction for years and, this year, with Linda Conway, has put in 147 hours researching the items. (Check out some of this year's choice selections.)

"We just take whatever comes in," said Sheldon. "Our sorting crews know what to look for."

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.