I’ll never tell you to stop using the library and start buying books exclusively. Free books forever, friends! But sometimes it’s nice to have a book collection to read at home. I especially find this to be true for my kids (who might read the same book several times).

Photo from February 2026 Rachel Kohl library book sale

But books are pricey (and getting more expensive, it seems, like everything else… 🫤). Used book sales to the rescue! This upcoming weekend, the Rachel Kohl Community Library is hosting its semi-annual book sale. Available books include those donated by community members as well as books formerly in library circulation that were replaced with something new. There’s a wide variety!

Side note: The library is not currently taking donations for this weekend’s sale so they can organize what they have. But they will take donations again soon for the spring sale in early 2027.

The spring book sale raised several thousand dollars for the library, so it’s a really important fundraiser and an easy one for readers to support. The library still needs some volunteers this week to get organized and help make sure the sale goes smoothly. More details about volunteering below (scroll a bit past the book sale details). And yes, teens are welcome (including the 8th graders who might need service hours for their civics class).

Hope you can make it! Bring plenty of bags to take home all the books.

P.S. Nonprofits or community organizations can take home books for free at the end of the sale. Details on that below as well.

Rachel Kohl Community Library book sale

September 25–27 at Rachel Kohl Community Library

Friday, Sept. 25: First Look Preview, 8–10 am ($10 admission), then free admission 10 am – 5 pm
Saturday, Sept. 26: 10 am – 5 pm, free admission
Sunday, Sept. 27: 12–5 pm, free admission — $5 Fill-a-Bag Day

Pricing: hardcovers are $2, paperbacks are $1, oversized and coffee-table books are $5, and DVDs/CDs are $1, with specialty and vintage items marked individually.

more details

Want to volunteer at the library book sale?

Volunteering at the book sale is a great way to support the library for a one-time event and contribute to the fundraising effort. You also get a first look at the books for sale (not too shabby).

Teen and adult volunteers are welcome to help out. No experience required. This is a great way to get service hours for class requirements, National Honor Society, Interact, or other purposes. It’s also fun to get out in the community and spend a couple of hours with neighbors if your calendar permits.

There are lots of open spots (at the time of publishing), so pick a time slot that works for you from this sign-up sheet. Shifts are typically two hours, so you can snag one or several if you’re feeling particularly ambitious. 🫶🏻 You can even bring a friend or two and volunteer together. Win-win!

What do library book sale volunteers do?

Here are the activities for each day, so you can get a sense of what you might be signing up to do:

Wednesday, September 23 (10:00 AM–7:00 PM) – Set Up

Move boxes from storage into the Community Room.
Set up tables.

Thursday, September 24 (10:00 AM–8:00 PM) – Final Set Up

Continue unpacking and organizing books.
Put up signs.
Set up checkout stations.
Prepare everything for opening day.

Friday, Saturday & Sunday – Book Sale

Greeting shoppers.
Handing out count slips.
Straightening/stocking tables.
Answering questions.
General assistance throughout the sale.

Monday, September 28 – Clean Up

Pack remaining books for donation to our community partners.
Restore the Community Room.

Need extra books for your community organization?

On Sunday, September 27, from 5:15 PM–7:00 PM, the library invites teachers, nonprofits, preschools, Little Free Libraries, and anyone in need of books (please, no resellers) to take any remaining books they can use. The library will box and donate any items left after Sunday evening to established community partners on Monday.

Mark your calendars

If you haven’t already, add a reminder to stop by the Rachel Kohl Library book sale (even if it’s just to browse for a bit). You never know what you’ll find. You can build your own personal library or even find the perfect book to gift a friend.

Happy reading! 📚