The Friends of the Library is excited to introduce book lovers' new best friend, BOB, which stands for Bag of Books Sale.
Unable to host their popular biannual book sales, which draw thousands of shoppers each spring and fall, the Friends of the Library (FOL) launched online sales of sacks of books by category on Oct. 1 at https://shop.folacld.org/. Shoppers can select varying sizes of bags of books in categories including children, cooking, hardback, romance, paperback fiction, science fiction, young adult, and mysteries and thrillers. Several categories sold out quickly when the sale started, but FOL volunteers will restock the shop throughout October.
Shoppers can purchase their bags of books online using a credit card. Volunteers will call to assign a pickup time on Saturdays when customers can visit the Bookhouse, 430 N. Main St. in Gainesville, to collect their purchase. Buyers will pull into a spot and a runner will deliver their books to the trunk. Buyers are asked to wear face masks when they pick up their items.
FOL volunteer Mark Olson, who is heading up the BOB project, said FOL plans to add CDs and DVDs to the online store in the coming weeks. The sale will continue through October and possibly longer.
"We'll keep adding inventory," Olson said.
FOL has also resumed accepting donations on Mondays and Thursdays 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Items can be dropped off in the green bins in front of the Bookhouse during those hours. Donations will be isolated for seven days before being sorted by volunteers.
"We want to keep our volunteers and the public as safe as possible," said FOL Vice President Ellen Smith.
FOL is a volunteer-run nonprofit that supports the Library District and community literary efforts. FOL funding helps the Library District purchase materials, bring in special performers and guests, and market library services.