Spencer Rotary gathers materials for fall book sale

The Spencer Rotary Club has started collecting books for the 2008 Rotary Book Sale set for Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 in the Ballroom of the Clay County Regional Events Center. The 17th annual book sale is expected to include approximately 30,000 used books ranging from fictional classics to romance novels and nonfiction selections to rare first editions.

"The Events Center provides a great venue for our annual book sale," said Mike Heffernen, Book Sale Committee chairman. "The atmosphere is welcoming and we have plenty of space to display the large volumes of books available for sale."

The dates of the book sale are Oct. 29, 30, 31, Nov. 1 and 2. As in the past, Wednesday night's "First Choice Party" from 5:30-7:30 p.m. will mark the beginning of the book sale. The $5 entry fee includes refreshments and the opportunity to be among the first to check out the great selection of books, videos and DVDs. Thursday through Saturday book sale hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with a $1 admission fee. Sunday hours are 12--4 p.m. and admission is free on the final day.

Hardcover books will be $1.50 each and paperbacks will be 75 cents each through Friday. On Saturday the prices are cut to $1 for hardback books and 50 cents for paperbacks. On Sunday, all books will be $3 a bag and, new this year, $25 for a shopping cart load. Free coffee will be available throughout the event. Tables will be set up where shoppers can take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee and peruse through an interesting book, or simply use an empty table to stack their future purchases.

* The Rotary Club is actively seeking donations of used books for the sale. Contributions of books can be dropped off at Spencer's Solid Waste Transfer Station, 3101 W. 18th St. during normal working hours, seven days each week. If a donor has a large number of books to contribute, he or she can contact a Rotarian. Anyone who needs books picked up can call 262-1068, 262-7098, 580-9963 or 580-7356.