Old Book Sale starts Thursday in Perry

Organizers of the Old Book Sale say shoppers can expect to have 90,000 books to choose from at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry.

PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Right now, the Baby Barn at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry is filled with empty tables.

But by Thursday, it will be covered with 90,000 books, broken down into 60 categories for book lovers to choose from.

“We have books laid out in more than 60 categories, like cookbooks, and mystery and religion,” President of the Houston County Friends of the Library, Georgette Lipford, said. “We have a lot of religion this year. We have a lot of children’s books.”

Lipford says the money from the sale helps raise funds for libraries throughout Houston County.  The Houston County Friends of the Library has hosted the book sale since it began 18 years ago.

According to Lipford, they’ve raised half a million dollars for the county libraries.

“They use it to buy books of course, to pay for programs like, children programs, children summer programs, there’s a vary of purposes they use it for,” Lipford said.

I spoke with Rebecca Johannsen, who said she started coming to the Old Book Sale with her family as a shopper, but now she comes as a volunteer with the Houston County Friends of the Library.

Johannsen says her job is to help get the books set up and that each book, and its previous owner, has a story to tell.

“Sometimes there’s names in them, and you go, ‘Oh, I wonder,” Johnannsen said. “Bookmarks are shopping receipts and sometimes a dollar bill. It’s amazing what kinds of bookmarks people use, toothpicks, so we go through the books and we sort all that out.”

Before heading to the fairgrounds, Lipford has one last thing to share.

“Come prepared if you plan to buy near 30 books,” Lipford said. “Either bring a little tote bag or grab a box, because you properly will find more than you thought you would find.”

The sale starts Thursday, April 18 at 10 a.m. and will run through 8 p.m. It’s $5 admission that day, and Houston Friends members enter free.

On Friday, April 19, the sale runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Admission is free.

On Saturday, April 20, it’s open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and it’s also Half Price Day.

Prices ranges from 50 cents to $3.

For more information, click here.