Friends of the Libraries Book Sale starts April 3

The Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries Spring Book Sale, which organizers say is one of the largest used book sales in Wisconsin with more than 15,000 books to choose from, will be held Wednesday, April 3 through Saturday, April 6.

The sale is open to the public and held in Room 116 Memorial Library, 728 State St., Madison. Sale dates and hours are:

• Wednesday, April 3, 5-9 p.m. (Preview Sale, $5 entry fee)
• Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5, 10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. (regular sale, no entry fee)
• Saturday, April 6, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (Bag Sale, $4 per bag) Bring grocery-sized bags to fill or buy one for $1.
• Saturday, April 6, 1:05-2 p.m. All remaining books are free.
• Prices are reduced each day of the sale, but the items sell quickly, so shoppers are encouraged to come early and often.

Featured in the sale are collections of modern fiction, American wildlife, art history, Jewish studies, chess, cinema and James Joyce. Other areas include children’s books, American studies, foreign languages, cooking, physical and biological sciences, computer science, political science, law, education, philosophy, ethics, self-help, reference, business, religion, women’s studies, and much more. There are also maps, DVDs, CDs, and LPs. This is the last sale at which LP records will be offered.

The sale takes nearly 60 volunteers to manage, and draws students, faculty, and the general public from around the Midwest. Books are donated by UW faculty, staff, and students, as well as many Madison-area residents. The sales help fund special purchases for the libraries’ collections, preservation of materials, a Friends annual lecture series and other special events open to the public, and grants for a visiting scholar program.

The Friends accept donations for upcoming sales on a continual basis and such donations are tax-deductible. More information about the book sale or donating books can be found here, by emailing Friends of the Libraries, or by calling 608-265-2505.