Library book sale has success in volumes

To say there were many bargains in the basement of Johnston’s Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library last week would be an understatement.

The non-profit Friends of Mohr Library held an impressive and expanded Used Book Sale that was many things for many people.

The three-day event was a sparkling success which means the Friends of Mohr Library – a non-profit that donates all of its proceeds from dues, memberships and fundraising events – will be able continue supporting and providing extra programs at Johnston’s only public library.

For people like Ron and Jessica Lambert, who live nearby off Cherry Hill, the expanded Used Book Sale was particularly special and the timing couldn’t have been better.

“We’re turning our living room into a library,” Jessica Lambert said while Ron looked through a number of the gently-used books that were neatly arranged on banquet-style tables in the often-used Mohr Library Meeting Room that’s located in the basement level next to the Children’s Library. “This is a great sale.”

For Dora Villari, it was indeed special as well as a bountiful book bonanza, because she took advantage of the Friends’ unique “Fill a Bag for Seven Bucks” offer.

When asked what kind of books she purchased, Villari put down several books that looked as though they were new and offered: “I’ve got history books, sports books … Great Expectations.”

“Our $7 Fill a Bag bargain has been extremely popular during this sale,” Helen Antonizio, the non-profit’s long-serving president, noted while arranging more books. “We tried that for the first time at the April mini-sale and there were some people who left with more than a few bags. One woman left with four bags that were filled to the tops.”

For Brenda Medeiros, the Friends’ expanded Used Book Sale was more about love but the focus was on books.

“This is my grandson Kenneth (Sanders),” said Medeiros, who “grandma” announced will turn six on Oct. 14. “Hold up your book …”

Suddenly, a smile appeared on the boys’ face as he held a book entitled “How to survive Middle School” that met with more smiles – and light laughter – from Friends’ volunteers Sheila Manney and Kathie Lombardo who manned the check out desk for all three days of the Expanded Book Sale.

Manny, meanwhile, wanted it known that member of the award-winning Johnston Police Explorers Post 405 played another important role in the Friends’ expanded Used Book Sale.

“The Explorers again came to help us set up the entire sale,” Manney noted. “They pretty much handle everything the day before we open and are here when we close up on Saturday. They se up tables, move books from the storage into the library, they unpack boxes of books that have been donated, they break down and re-pack boxes … they do all of this smoothly and professionally.”

Manny thanks Major (Thomas H.) Dolan and Lt. Steven Guilmette for their leadership and on-going help as well as Allegra Graziano, Katherine Rocha, Josh and Ryan Savard, Patrick Young, Bailey Morgan and Sandra Dauphinais.

The three-day expanded Used Book Sale was, as Antonizio pointed out, “a family experience for many people. It was a pleasure to see one tiny girl – sitting on the floor – reading a book with her father looking on. Some parents were here with kids of different ages browsing the shelves. We also loved seeing grandmothers and grandfathers encouraging their grandchildren to select a book or two to take home.”