SUNDRE – The annual Big Book Sale at the Sundre Municipal Library recently set a post-pandemic milestone.
This year’s fundraiser, which ran April 1-11, generated approximately $1,800 in revenues, “striding past 2024’s sale proceeds of just over $1,600 and setting a record for monies raised from this fundraiser in post-COVID years,” said Joy Willihnganz, manager.
As the sale includes both library discards as well as books that were donated from community members, determining precisely how many books were available, how many gently used books came in from the community and how many books sold is difficult, she said.
“That said, conservative estimates suggest that this year’s book sale contained approximately 2,000 books, giving shoppers a wide selection to choose from, of which approximately one-third went to discerning readers,” she said.
Titles that did not sell still got another chance at finding a new home in a bookworm’s collection as they were in turn donated to the May book sales put on by Calgary Reads and RESET Society, she said.
And with the signs of spring slowly but surely beginning to manifest, the library is already preparing for its next event.
“We are currently gearing up for our plant fundraiser, made possible through the generous donation of a resident green-thumb gardener and library supporter,” said Willihnganz.
“Sweet pea plants will be available for purchase beginning early May for the first few weeks and we are hopeful for tomato plants as well sometime in June.”
Funds raised through library events support programs and resources, but they would not be possible without the public’s help, she said.
“We are grateful for the community support, in donating books and in purchasing books, which make this fundraiser so successful.”
