BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL) holds its latest book sales this Wednesday, Jan 25, noon to 8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at its central branch on Payrow Plaza.
Executive Director Josh Berk said the facility’s regular sales — held six times per year — generate about $50,000 toward the operating budget of the library system.
- Bethlehem Area Public Library system holds six used book sales per year, raising about $50K.
- Library supporters donate about 1,000 books a week to the system. The overwhelming majority are sold at the book sales.
- The next sales are this Wednesday, Jan 25th, noon to 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Library’s central branch on Payrow Plaza
— BAPL (@paBAPL) January 17, 2023
The proceeds from the sales help fund new acquisitions and general operations for the library, Berk said. It takes one staff member to organize the event, and volunteers help make the rest possible.
“We have a wonderful crew of library book sale volunteers who not only go through the donations to see what's… usable for the library collection… but then they also organize the books,” Berk said.
Unlike a typical flea market, the BAPL book sale is organized by subject like a bookstore. The primary purpose of the sale is to raise funds for operations, but Berk said it also builds community. Even if it did not make money, he said, they’d probably hold the events anyway.
“It's just a fun way to bring books and people together.”
In the event of inclement weather on Wednesday, Berk said to keep an eye on bapl.org and BAPL social media for rescheduled dates and times.
