Friends host biggest book sale ever

Maricopa Friends of the Library wrapped up their most successful semi-annual used book sale ever Saturday at noon.

The Friends started the sale with 170 boxes of books and ended it with only 31 boxes. Proceeds of the sale amounted to $1721.65. That sum will go toward the support of programs and the purchase of materials for the Maricopa Public Library’s collections.

“This was our most successful sale to date,” said Roberta Cianciosi, president of the Friends organization. “We certainly thank the members of the community for their continued support.”

Hundreds of books were offered for sale, including modern fiction, romance, reference, westerns and science fiction. Cooking, crafts and children’s books were also available.

In addition to the used books for $5 per grocery bag, DVDs and CDs, the Friends sold both their book bags and their cookbook, “Home Cookin’ from Maricopa, AZ,” as well as the city’s definitive history book, “Reflections of a Desert Town,” by Friends member Patricia Brock.

“It’s a good feeling to see people being able to purchase books at such reasonable prices when they otherwise might not be able to afford them,” said book sale chairman Judy Figgins.

The sale was held at Santa Rosa Elementary School, and the Friends expressed their thanks to the school district and Principal Rick Abel for the use of that facility, as well as to Bashas’ for providing the paper grocery bags and the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce for being a donated book collection site. They also thanked Jennifer Kacprowicz for donating 1,700 books when she closed her Secondhand Pages bookstore.

March will be the next regularly scheduled Maricopa Friends of the Library used book sale. Anyone who has used books to donate should drop them off at the Chamber of Commerce office next to the post office on Hathaway Avenue. Members of the Friends group pick them up, sort and store them for the next sale.

Another Maricopa Friends of the Library activity beginning this week is coffee at the Maricopa Public Library, located off Smith-Enke Road just before it intersects with Porter Road. Beginning Sept. 22, coffees will take place every Tuesday afternoon from 2-3:30 p.m., providing an opportunity for residents to chat with the Friends before or after visiting the library.

Photos by Joyce Hollis