NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Public Library's annual book sale returns this weekend with nearly 6,000 titles to select from.

 

Member of the Library Friends Judy Noel said the book sale has been an annual event for some time now but it is in its seventh year at the St. Elizabeth's Parish Center. 

 

"It seems like the community has realized that the sale is great and there is a lot to offer here," Noel said. "People love it here because there is a lot of room to move around and it is a big space."

 

Noel said all the books are donated from the community. She said the Friends start in April to organize the donations. 

 

Friend Mary Jane Desmarais said the library sale is a big operation that takes about six months to organize.

 

"There are more people willing to help. When we first started we had like five people that were really on board all of the time," Desmarais said. "Once it starts it doesn't stop, even after the sale there are still a lot of things we have to do."

 

Noel said all proceeds go to the Friends, which uses the funds to support the library with programming, new furniture and resources. 

 

"Everything goes to the Friends which we, in turn, use to help the library because the city budget is tight," Noel said.   

 

Desmarais said the sale usually brings in about $6,500.

 

She added that books that are not sold are either collected for next year's sale or given to a recycler who will donate them overseas or to other organizations.

 

The sale will be Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be a bake sale.