Photo by Dave Tel/Thinkstock
The Friends of VCU Libraries is hosting a fall book sale for the first time in two years to benefit VCU Libraries’ programs, as well as service projects of the VCU Emerging Leaders Program. The book sale has not taken place in two years due to the construction associated with the expansion of the James Branch Cabell Library. The sale will be held on Cabell Library’s third-floor lecture hall from Thursday, Oct. 27, through Monday, Oct. 31. The sale is open to the public and will offer thousands of paperback and hardcover novels, poetry collections, history books, biographies, scholarly studies, cookbooks, children’s books and art books, as well as comic books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and rare and vintage finds.
“This sale will be a pleasant and comfortable outing in the search for fine books and perhaps that long-sought first edition, a special record or tape, the elusive comic book, or perhaps that perfect coffee table book that says ‘classic,' ” says Scott Tilley, co-chair of the book sale. “This is a great opportunity for the book lover, the casual reader, comic book aficionado or [anyone who enjoys] just the fun of the search in an extensive inventory in the new building space on the third floor.”
Book sale shoppers can buy five comics for $1, hardcover books for $2, trade paperbacks for $1 and mass-market paperbacks for 25 cents. On the final day of the sale, Oct. 31, guests will be able to fill a bag of books for $5.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit VCU Libraries and student-run initiatives of the VCU Emerging Leaders Program. The VCU Emerging Leaders program aims to influence the lives of student leaders within VCU through a competitive mentoring program.
“Each year, different projects are selected that will have an impact on the VCU campus and surrounding community,” says Jimmie Gahagan, Ph.D., director of VCU LEAD in the Division of Student Affairs. “The leadership projects give emerging leader students the opportunity to apply the skills they are learning in the classroom in a real-world setting. Past projects have led to the creation of Ram Camp, the VCU Lead Living and Learning Program, the Presidential Student Ambassadors and the Dominion Place Partnership.”
Gahagan says that by partnering with VCU libraries, the Emerging Leaders will have a steady flow of funding for events and projects in the future. Some events the book sale will benefit are Ram Exchange, a thrift event that let students but and sell or exchange unwanted items, Transfer Student Transitions to VCU, a program which supports transfer students to VCU, and the Peer-to-Peer DisAbilities Mentorship Program, a peer mentorship program for VCU students with disabilities.
The book sale is open to the public, with a preview sale from 9 a.m. to noon on the opening day only for current Friends of VCU Libraries donors. Anyone has the opportunity to join the Friends by making a $100 donation online in advance to the book sale, or patrons may join at the door by cash, credit or check on the day of the preview sale.
