From left, Friends members Sonia Black, Margaret Merriman, of Springfield, Bob Atkins, Mary Storch, of Burke, sort and arrange book donations in the small space reserved for the Friends at Pohick Regional Library. Photo by Abigail Constantino/The Connection
The Friends of the Pohick Regional Library handed the Fairfax Library Foundation a check for $20,000 last July.
Getting to that amount came about by humble means — dollars and cents from having a book sale.
The group holds ongoing and biannual book sales every year, where it sells not only books but movies, CDs and audio books priced between 25 cents to $5 each.
Friends of the Pohick Regional Library president Yolanda Atkins said that the group sold about 12,000-15,000 books on its way to making $20,000.
“We couldn’t provide book sales without dedicated volunteers that continue to contribute because they know we’re doing a worthwhile thing,” said Atkins, who lives in Burke.
Five hundred hours were logged by at least 20 volunteers, in addition to help from the Boy Scouts, to prepare for the group’s biannual three-day sale. “It’s a community effort,” said Mary Storch, of Burke, the book sales manager.
Storch also feared that the advent of eBooks would affect the sale “but we’re still getting a lot of books” donated, she said.
The group’s contribution qualifies them for Publisher level sponsors, according to the Fairfax Library Foundation sponsorship guidelines. The Friends of the Pohick Regional Library will be recognized by the library foundation during a reception, A Library Jubilee, on Saturday, Oct. 18, which will be held at the City of Fairfax Regional Library.
The goal of the group is to “provide funds so all of Fairfax County can benefit from it,” said Atkins. Over the years, the group has fulfilled the requests of Pohick Regional Library, which have included support for the floating collection, eBooks, furniture, shelving, landscaping, and the summer reading program.
Susan Harman, Fairfax Library Foundation Executive Director, wrote in an email that the “Fairfax Library Foundation greatly appreciates the Friends’ continued support and dedication to the library. Their generous contribution to the Foundation will help fund scholarships for library employees and volunteers as well as Changing Lives Through Literature and other programs, presentations and services. The Friends’ dedication to enhancing library is commendable and we extend our heartfelt appreciation for their continued support.”