NEWS
Contact: Janet Crystal
Direct dial number: 203-762-6324
E-mail: [email protected]
www.wiltonlibrary.org
April 6, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wilton Library’s annual book sale booked for April 22 - 25
Wilton, CT – The activity in Wilton Library’s “Book Cellar” is at fever pitch in an effort to get
ready for the annual Gigantic Book Sale beginning Saturday, April 22 through Tuesday, April 25. The
sale starts on Saturday, from 7 to 9 a.m., with an Early Buyers fee of $15; from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the
remaining days, admission is free to the public. Sunday, the sale is open from noon to 5 p.m.; Monday,
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., items are half price, and Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., purchases are $5 per
bag with bags supplied by the library. A silent auction of rare and collectible books will be held during
Saturday and Sunday hours. On Saturday, the Rotary Club of Wilton will sell hot dogs and sodas at
lunchtime with proceeds benefiting the library. The sale boasts more than 70,000 items in more than 50
categories ranging from art books, children’s and teens, cooking, gardening, history, travel, and
teacher’s materials; gently used, new, signed, collectible, rare books, DVDs, CDs, books on CDs – there
is something for everyone in the Book Cellar, the Brubeck Room and the gallery .
Elaine Tai-Lauria, executive director for Wilton Library, said, “This book sale is extremely
important for the library. With today’s headlines about the slashing of state and local budgets, people
are more aware that fundraising is becoming a major source of revenue for the library. Every new book,
DVD, and CD on our shelves and every newspaper in our reading room is purchased with dollars from
donations large and small. This book sale goes a long way in helping us maintain the level of
commitment our patrons have come to expect.”
Pat Gould, one of the chairs of the book sale fundraiser, commented, “Each year in May we start
with a fresh slate and an empty cellar after the Gigantic Book Sale, and thanks to the wonderful book
donations of this community, we are able to mount this sale, plus our annual summer sidewalk sale, our
Awesome Autumn Sale, our Holiday Book Sale, along with a book shelf of bestselling authors on sale
all year long, each one bringing in much needed funding to the library.”
Bob Russell is in charge of the book sale’s silent auction each year and was impressed with this
year’s donations. “We have a great cache this year that should really entice our buyers. They’ll find
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“Caricatures by Enrico Caruso,” “All About Amos ’n Andy,” “Sex” by Madonna, and books signed by
Julie Andrews, Don Rickles, and Phyllis Diller. The oldest book is a Bible in German from 1684,” he
remarked. These are just some of the more than 150 items on which buyers can bid both Saturday and
Sunday. A list of the rare and collectible items is on the library’s website at www.wiltonlibrary.org.
According to Jan MacEwen, another chair of the annual spring fundraiser, “Volunteers work
steadily throughout the year to keep ahead of the avalanche of gently-used and pristine books, DVDs
and CDs that are continuously donated – and even with that schedule, the last three weeks are non-stop
cleaning, sorting, and categorizing the thousands of items to get the sale ready for the public.”
Janet Zuckerman, another chair chimed in, “The sale is so well known by dealers and book
lovers alike. We always hear comments about how well run it is – from the quality and quantity of the
items to the organization and display – smart shoppers wait for it every year in April.”
Lila Griswold, also a chair of the event nodded with enthusiasm, “We have a dedicated group of
volunteers who comes in all year; then we have to marshal even more resources during the book sale to
keep shelves and tables replenished and straightened; we provide an abundance of cashiers to keep
people moving through the line. It’s a well-oiled machine with terrific people helping out.”
In discussing the book sale and why they are involved, trustees Kim Healy and Patty Connor
agreed, “We realize how essential it is for the library to raise funds, so we are delighted to be a part of
this important endeavor.”
Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center. For
information and directions, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call 203-762-6334.
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Caption: These happy volunteers are smiling because Wilton Library’s Annual Gigantic Book Sale gets
underway Saturday, April 22 through Tuesday, April 25. More than 70,000 items will be available for
sale including a rare and collectible silent auction on Saturday and Sunday. Rotary Club of Wilton will
be selling hot dogs on Saturday. Early Buyers, Saturday, 7 – 9 a.m., $15 admission fee; remaining hours
are free admission: Sunday, 12 – 5 p.m.; Monday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., items half price; Tuesday, 10 a.m. to
3 p.m., $5 per bag. Visit library’s website for details and the silent auction list. Wilton Library, 137 Old
Ridgefield Road, Wilton, CT; www.wiltonlibrary.org; 203-762-6334.
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