We’re looking forward to seeing you! Our dedicated volunteers have worked for twelve months to prepare a great event for the community, and a major fundraiser for the San Luis Obispo Library, made possible be the many book and media donations made to the Friends.
The the 41st annual book sale is scheduled for March 5-7, 2020. As usual, the Sale will be at the Veterans Memorial Building on Grand Avenue (between Palm and Mill Streets) in San Luis Obispo. This year will feature one of our largest ever selection of books (over 30,000) and thousands of classic films and special DVDs.
For the second year we will feature a Member’s Day on Thursday, March 5. Members only may shop from noon to 7:00 pm. Memberships will be for sale at the door, or renew online now.
Additional hours:
Friday, March 6: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday, March 7: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Bag sale 3:00-5:00)
Special books this year include collections of vintage Sunset and Life magazines, early alternative comics from Portland, Chilton Repair Manuals for vintage automobiles, rare catalogs from art galleries, a WPA book of Spanish American Music and Children’s Games from 1935, mountaineering magazines, and local history publications including Tognazinni’s 100 Years Ago, publications from around the county, and early La Vista monographs. Click here for a list of Special Book highlights. This is only a small sample, so be sure to check the Special Books section.
Typically books are priced by the inch. Aside from special books, which are individually priced, prices are:
Books – $1.25 per inch.
DVDs and CDs – $2.00 each
To see the Tribune’s video of preparation for the book sale, click here.
How it looks before the public enters.
2017 – 38th Annual Book Sale
For historical view of the 38th Annual Book Sale, including a time-lapse video of the set-up, click here.
2015 – 36th Annual Book Sale
The 36th Annual Book Sale was a great success. Thanks to all who attended and helped us to raise funds for the SLO Library and our activities. And thanks 1) to all of our volunteers who worked during the sale, 2) to those who helped setup and clear the building, 3) to those who worked all year long categorizing and packing up the books and media and 4) to those who planned and ran the sale. Without your help this event could not have happened and we could not have provided thousands of books and media back into the community.
Below are some of the sights of the book sale:
Wednesday
On Wednesday, a huge group of volunteers helped set up the building for the book sale. Over 20,000 books and 4,500 audio and video media were organized on tables in the Veterans Hall. The following time lapse video shows 5 hours of work compressed into two minutes.
Thursday
The opening night of the Book Sale was very active. Lots of books and media sold, but with 20,000 books and 4,500 media available, there are still plenty of books, CDs and DVDs available. Below are the opening minutes from Thursday night compressed into less than one minute.
Book Sale History
The first Book Sale was organized in March 1979 by Marjorie Johnson who was then the Assistant Library Director. The Sale was held in the lower floor of the Veterans Memorial Building. This space is now home to the Veterans Museum. Since the room size limited patrons to 250 at a time, there were lines of patrons waiting for a chance to buy books at a price of 15 cents per inch. The first Sale netted over $1700, and the success of that Sale resulted in a move to the Main Hall in the Vets Building.
In preparation for the Sale, Marjorie secured space in a large warehouse on Kansas Avenue – formerly the laundry for Camp San Luis Obispo. Marjorie and her husband Richard led a team of volunteers who sorted and boxed books for the Sale – they did this for over 25 years. Marjorie’s idea for the Sale has resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars donated by the Friends over the past 33 years.
The key to success of the book sale is the work of our volunteers. During the year, ten volunteers meet regularly to sort and box books. These gatherings of the Warehouse Gang are notable for excellent book recommendations and lots of laughter. For the Sale itself, there are over 100 volunteers – hardworking and good-natured Friends. Our customers appreciate their helpful attitude and smiling faces.
If you would like to volunteer for the Sale or if you would like to donate books for the Sale, please email booksale@slofol.org or fill in the email contact form.
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