Each Fall the Friends of the Veterans Memorial Library in Mt. Pleasant hold an extensive book sale at the Library where attendees find a great selection of “gently-used” books, videos and CD’s for you to choose from. The Friends Book Sale obtains its written, visual and audio materials through generous donations by library patrons and the general public. This year the sale will take place Thursday, October 5 from 10:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., Friday October 6 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and Saturday October 7 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Saturday is bargain day when you can buy a bag of books for only two dollars.
Besides helping the Friends raise money to support our community’s local public library, the Clarke Library owes a special debt to the organization. Each year the Friends give us a call and invites the Clarke staff to visit the book sale a day or two before the public is invited, allowing us to look through and take without charge any of the donated books that will enhance the Clarke Library’s book collection.
I spent much of Tuesday morning pouring over titles and
walked away with seventy titles. A few samples of the treasures I brought back
to the Clarke include, Splittin’ the Mitten: Get Your Kicks on Michigan’s Route
66; Better Made in Michigan: The Salty Story of Detroit’s Best Chip; Aloft: Bay
County Michigan Pioneer Flyers, Flights, & Airfields, 1912-1962; and the
children’s book Stephen and the Beetle by award-winning Mexican author Jorge
Lujan.
But my favorite was, The ABC’s of Detroit Tigers Baseball, by the Detroit Tigers Wives. In case you are wondering A is for the American League. L is for legends, including Ty Cobb, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Hal Newhouser and Willie Horton, along with announcer Ernie Harwell, each of who is remembered by a statue at Comerica Park. Z is for the Zone, as in the strike zone (okay so they were reaching a little, but you come up with something better!)
My thanks to the Friends of the Veterans Library for helping us expand the collection. If you have a little time and need a good book to own, drop by the Veterans Library at 301 S. University Ave., Mount Pleasant, Thursday, Friday or Saturday. I left a few good ones behind for you!