Book Sale Promotes Reading

Michael Smith, seen here with his kids, Ty, Malia, Mila and Thomas, bought several books at the sale. Photo by Léo Azambuja

By Léo Azambuja

The Friends of the Molokai Public Library hosted their quarterly book sale at the library last week. Besides clearing some of the thousands of donated and retired books, the sale promotes community engagement and, of course, reading.

“We just need to get (the books) moving and have more people reading versus on their phones,” FOL President Joan Howard said.

Thousands of books were carefully stacked and separated in sections in a makeshift bookstore at the back of the library. Mostly everyone who came by left with at least a book.

“Nobody leaves empty-handed,” Howard said, adding the most popular books at the sale were children’s and fiction books. 

Parents who brought their kids along were in trouble, good trouble. They all left with stacks of books. Anticipating the literary score their kids were planning, some even brought bags to help them carry the pillage. 

Aside from children’s books and fiction, there were lots of books on biography, travel, cooking, self-help, art, music, history and more. They also had comics, traditional Japanese manga books, audio books and even free DVDs.

A customer had a box with a few books. In the mix, there was probably the biggest book of the sale, a colossal, beaten-up Merriam-Webster dictionary.

“It’s a collector’s item,” Andrew Clemens said. “I just kind of like older things.” 

Michael Smith brought his four children, and each one of them was excited with the books, lots of books, they were taking home. 

“Reading is important. It’s the best way to learn,” Smith said. He usually comes with his kids to the library to participate in their Story Time with ‘Ohana Readers program. 

All those books purchased didn’t break anyone’s bank; the payments were on a donation basis, and customers were the ones setting the prices. Howard said the Friends of the Library just wants people to have books. The money goes into a fund to support the library with things the state government won’t pay for.

“We are going to buy lounge chairs for that room up there,” Howard said, pointing to a new library annex building that has yet to be opened to the public.

The next book sale will be in about three months, and Howard is already looking forward to it.

“It brings people together that I would never regularly meet,” she said. “It’s a fun community kind of thing.”

Every book sale has new books. The Friends of the Library are always receiving donations, plus the library also provides new books for the sale. 

For $5, anyone can become a lifetime member of the Friends of the Molokai Public Library and enjoy all the many benefits they offer. Visit https://friendsofthelibraryofhawaii.org/molokaiaffiliate/ to find out more about the organization, become a member or donate.

The Molokai Public Library is open Monday through Friday with varied schedules. They have many community programs and special events. Visit www.librarieshawaii.org/branch/molokai-public-library/ for more information on the library and its programs.