Don't miss library's biggest book sale ever

Bette Cawood has helped run her fair share of Wodonga Library book sales over the years but says nothing comes close to the sheer size of this week’s ‘the final chapter’ sale.

The Friends of the Library President said there is twice as many books up for grabs over the two days – Friday, August 30 and Saturday, August 31.

“We are calling it the final chapter because it closes the door on the current library building to make way for a new one,” Mrs Cawood said.

Mrs Cawood remembers when the sales were held outside in the courtyard next to the library – in all weather conditions.

“We used to have it in the courtyard when I first started, in all the rain and wind and in the summer time it was so hot,” she said.

“Since The Cube has been built we have had the sale inside in the children’s area.”

Ms Cawood said it would be all hands on deck with up to 14 volunteers helping at the sale.

There’s always people who collect certain books and sometimes Ms Cawood can pick them a mile away.

“There’s men who collect westerns and they are always first at the door and then you have those who want anything to do with the war,” Ms Cawood said.

“There’s a lady who collects books about the royal family and she always comes to the sales and then there’s always gardeners who come for the gardening books.”

Discarded books and magazines from across the library collection and a number of donated books and dvds will be included in the sale.

Prices start from 50 cents and dvds from $1.

The book sale on Friday will run between 3.30pm and 6pm and on Saturday between 9am and 11.30am.

There will be fiction and non-fiction books, children’s books and young adult books and topics such as history, art, travel, sport, science and culture.

“If you bring your Wodonga Library bag, you can fill it to the brim for $10,” Ms Cawood said.

The library book sales are held twice a year with proceeds from the sale going back into the community by funding new equipment, services and library programs.

“We have bought the library trolleys and many fixtures over the years,” Mrs Cawood said.

One example of a program that the group support is subsidising tickets for the Girls Write Up day in October.

Their support means tickets are more affordable for young people attending these workshops.

Mrs Cawood is looking forward to walking into a new library building when the library gallery redevelopment is complete.

She said the current building is old and has issues with water entering the building when it rains.

Construction of the new building is hoped to start in January with the library moved to a temporary location in October-November.

The temporary location will be High Street where council’s current customer service centre is located.

The library will use that space as well as the old sports store next door.

Early October 2018, it was announced the Victorian Government was funding $4 million of the $10.2 million project.

Stay up-to-date with the project at our Major Projects website.