Once again, I am writing to thank the community for a successful book sale.
I’d like to remind everyone that all the book sale profits are returned to the people of Harvard by funding library activities including extensive children’s programs, Friends of the Arts performances, museum passes, and a scholarship in honor of a great friend of the library, Dr. Jeff Harris. The book sale is our largest fundraiser, along with memberships, and the proceeds are what keep these great programs going year after year.
Thank you to all Harvard residents who donated their books and who bought thousands of books at the sale.
Thanks to Library Director Mary Wilson and her staff for their cooperation and patience, allowing us to disrupt the Harvard Public Library for a month. Our town is incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and knowledgeable staff that provides so many important programs and services.
I can’t thank our great volunteers enough for the hundreds of hours they worked on the sale. They gave up Saturdays and weekdays and nights to sort books and work the sale itself. This event can only be run successfully with many minds and hands working together.
We also thank the Harvard Unitarian Church and the Lions Club for lending us tables, and the Harvard Press for the coverage of the sale.
A lot of people ask us what happens to the leftover books. We keep some in storage to sell in the lobby at the public library. We hold some to give to Loaves & Fishes for its annual holiday shopping event. The rest are donated to a wonderful charity called More Than Words, which runs bookstores in Waltham and Boston. Their employees are at-risk youths whose lives are positively affected by their experience with this organization. They were recently featured in the Boston Globe and on WGBH. We have been very pleased to donate our leftovers to this great group for the last five years.
Chris Frechette, president
Friends of the Harvard Public Library
