Booth Library’s 35th Annual Sale—

A Strong Book Sale Despite A Weak Economy

By Eliza Hallabeck

The 235 tables placed in Reed Intermediate School’s cafetorium and gymnasium were piled full of books, all alphabetized, on Saturday, July 10, for the start the C.H. Booth Library 35th Annual Book Sale.

By Wednesday, the last day of the sale, tables had dwindled in number, and Friends of the C.H. Booth Library volunteers had consolidated and ordered the remaining books. Some tables had lone signs standing, like the “Chick Lit” sign, with no books left below them.

“Many thanks to the people in Newtown who donated books throughout the year,” said Toni Earnshaw, Friends of the C.H. Booth Library volunteer.

Friends volunteer Pete Stern, who wore his name tag on his sleeve and helped guide eager visitors to the sale, said some years the volunteers overhear negative comments about the sale, but this year he heard nothing but positive remarks.

“It’s been a terrific sale,” said Ms Earnshaw, who oversaw supplying the book sale volunteers with food, water, and caffeinated beverages.

Friends volunteer Denise Kaiser said this year’s sale reached it goal to meet last year’s sale of $100,000.

“Which is for us a wonderful return,” said Ms Kaiser, “and really is a credit to the people in the area who read.”

Meeting the $100,000 mark took some pressure off the volunteers, who said they were worried about not meeting the goal.

“We were very afraid with money so tight, that books would be discretionary,” said Ms Kaiser, “but, no!”

This was the first year food was provided for the volunteers, and Ms Earnshaw they had some extra help from First Selectman Pat Llodra along with the local businesses Dunkin’ Donuts, Caraluzzi’s, Bagel Delight, Andrea’s Bakery, Costco, Big Y, Stew Leonard’s, Carminuccio’s, and multiple volunteer bakers.

World of Wine & Spirits also helped by donating boxes to help hold the books.

When the book sale opened on Saturday morning, more than 500 people came through the entrance between 9 am and 9:30 am. A line had formed before the opening that snaked down before the entrance of the school, and around the side.

Three boxes of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee had been donated for the volunteers that morning, but by 9:30 all of the coffee was gone, according to Ms Earnshaw. There were between 50 and 75 volunteers who worked the sale on Saturday, and while Ms Earnshaw was trying to figure out how to supply more coffee for those volunteers, Mrs Llodra offered her assistance. Ms Earnshaw said on Wednesday, that she offered to give Mrs Llodra money for the coffee, but in the end, “Mrs Llodra went and picked up the coffee for us… That’s a selectman that goes above and beyond.”

“It was lovely of her to show her support for the volunteers,” said Ms Earnshaw.

More help came throughout the sale, according to both Ms Earnshaw and Ms Kaiser. Sports teams, including Coach Matthew Memoli’s baseball team and coach Amanda Hadgraft’s field hockey team, offered their assistance in unloading books for the sale.

Ms Kaiser, Ms Earnshaw, and Mr Stern said on Wednesday that work is already underway for next year’s book sale.