Book Sale is the Perfect Family Night Out
by Sarah Walsh, Development Director, Estes Valley Library
Library book sales. They have a “storied” history in the Estes Valley.
Well-loved by readers and bargain hunters, the tradition traces back decades to the annual Book and Bake Sale once hosted by the Estes Park Woman’s Club. This month, we’re embarking on a new chapter in this ever-popular ritual, with two firsts.
It’s the very first-ever Spring Book Sale next Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20, hosted by the Estes Valley Library Friends & Foundation. This event joins the annual summer sale in August and the holiday sale in December.
Another big first: Friday Family Night. It’s a delightful opportunity for parents to turn their quest for summer reading into an evening out.
Here’s how it works: parents who spend $20 or more at the sale will earn three hours of free childcare from 5 pm to 8 pm on Friday, May 19. It’s all made possible by the graduates of the Library Teen Zone’s Babysitting 101 course. These graduates, along with Library staff, will be on hand from 5 pm to 8 pm that evening to provide activities and dinner for the kids while parents enjoy an evening out. With the Library’s main area closing at 5 pm, kids will enjoy the safety and comfort of the children’s room all to themselves.
It’s a creative way to turn book-shopping into a fun night for the entire family. We offer our thanks and congratulations to all the recent Teen Zone babysitter graduates, all of whom participated in a three-part course sponsored by the Library. Teens learned about how keep kids safe, how to plan age-appropriate activities, as well as CPR. These young people will be available for hire as babysitters this summer—a win for them, and a win for local parents.
Whether or not you’re a parent with kids at home, the Library’s Spring Sale is a must visit to explore thousands of gently-used and affordably-priced books and DVDs on sale in the Hondius Community Room. The event begins at 12 noon on May 19 and continues until 9:00 that evening. On May 20, the sale is open from 10 am to 4 pm.
Emphasis for the Spring Sale will be on some of our most popular categories: novels, mysteries, cookbooks, as well as children’s and teen books.
And if you need to make room on your home bookshelves for all the bargains you’ll find, the Library welcomes book donations. Before loading the car, we encourage you to visit the donation guidelines found at estesvalleylibrary.org under the “About the Library” link.
Best of all, every dollar raised at the Spring Book Sale will support the fundraising efforts of the Library’s Friends & Foundation, which in turn provides funds to enhance the Library’s vital services and programs.
Readers, parents, kids, babysitters, and bargain-seekers all have something to celebrate. We’ll see you May 19 and 20 for this great new chapter in book sale bliss.