Fall 2011 FFPL Book Sale to Open Beginning October 25

Looking for a good book to read on those cold fall and winter nights? The Friends of the Flint Public Library Fall Book Sale has just what you need.  Volunteers have been busy setting up tables and covering them with thousands of used books, videos and other treasures, preparing for this edition of the twice-yearly event.  The sale is located in the basement of the Library’s main branch at 1026 E. Kearsley.

This Fall’s sale begins Tuesday, October 25, from 5 – 7:30 p.m., with Friends’ Night, when FFPL members, only, will be allowed the first chance  to purchase items from our collection. Books, in general, will sell for $1.oo (for hardcovers) and $0.50 (for paperbacks). Some valuable selections will be priced higher and have been separated from the main collection. If you are not yet a member of the Friends of the Flint Public Library, memberships will be available at the door for a minimum donation of only $10.

The sale will continue and be open to the public on  Wednesday and Thursday evenings, again from 5 – 7:30 p.m.  Friday the sale shifts to earlier in the day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will offer 2 for 1 deals on both hardcover and paperback books (specialty books not included). Saturday, October 29, will bring the always popular bag day, when you can fill up a grocery sack of books, including hard and soft covers, for only $4.00. Hours of operation on Saturday will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., after which the sale will be over until Spring.

Don’t miss out on this fabulous opportunity to stock up on reading materials for the coming months while helping to support our great library.  We look forward to seeing you there.

2011 Spring Book Sale Set to Open with New Hours

The Friends of the Flint Public Library’ Spring Book Sale is scheduled to begin with Friends’ Night, Tuesday, May 3.  The sale, as usual, will take place in the basement of the main branch of the FPL, located at 1026 E. Kearsley, in the heart of Flint’s Cultural Center.  Only Friends of the FPL will be admitted to this special preview night, which begins an hour earlier than usual, at 5 p.m.  Yearly memberships, available for a donation of $10 or more, can be obtained at the door, for those who are not currently members or have allowed their memberships to lapse.

Beginning Wednesday and Thursday, May 4 and 5, the sale will be opened to the public.  Thousands of hardcover (one dollar each) and paperback (fify cents) books will be available, as well as many CDs, DVDs, videos, and cassette tapes.   The sale will be open from 5 to 7:30 p.m. both nights, the same as Friends’ Night on Tuesday.

Friday, the sale shifts to daytime hours, opening at 11 a.m and running until 3 p.m.  On this special day, books will be sold at half price, with hardcovers bargain priced at two for a dollar, while paperbacks will sell at two for fifty cents.

The always popular bag day will mark the end of the sale, from 10 a.m until 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 7.  On that day, visitors will be able to buy as many books as they can fit into a standard paper grocery sack for the low, low price of only four dollars per bag.  Bags will be provided and there is no limit to the number of bags you can buy.

The sale will also offer a large number of special books, always popular with collectors.  While these treasures are priced slightly higher than the other books available at the sale, they are still priced much lower than their fair market value would suggest.   However, these special selections will be removed from the tables before Saturday’s bag sale, so if you’d like to see them, you will need to come in prior to Saturday.

Remember, it’s first come, first serve.  So, come early.  Come often.  Join us May 3-7 for your chance to obtain all of your summer reading needs while at the same time showing much needed support for our local library.

Time Running Out to Get Tickets for Chicago Trip with FFPL

This Friday, November 19, will be the last day to purchase tickets to join the Friends of the FPL on their 2nd annual day-long bus trip to Chicago.  Tickets are only $60, round trip,  and may be purchased at the Library’s administration offices, located on the 2nd floor of the Library’s main branch.  The Saturday, December 4, trip is scheduled to leave the library in Flint at 7 a.m., and will return to Flint at 1 a.m.   The bus will arrive at Chicago’s famous Navy Pier at 10:30, local time.  You can choose to stay at the pier and partake in all the festivities of WinterFest, or you can enjoy free trolley rides downtown for holiday shopping,  dining in one of Chicago’s fine eateries, or visits to one of Chicago’s many museums and other attractions.   The bus will depart from the Navy Pier for the return trip to Flint at 7 p.m., local time.  Plenty of tickets remain, but don’t delay and risk missing this great trip.  You can reserve your seat today by callng Julie at the library (810-232-7111).

2010 Fall Book Sale going on thru October 30th

There are only four days left to take advantage of The Friends of the Flint Public Library semiannual book sale.  Sale hours for the remaining days are as follows: Wednesday, October 27, and Thursday, October 28, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.  Friday, October 29, the sale will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 3:oo p.m.  Saturday, October 30, the sale will open at 10:oo a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m.  Prices for books are $1 for hard cover, and $0.50 for paperback.  Friday, all books will be on sale for half the normal price.  Saturday is bag day, when all the books you can fit in a grocery sack will cost only $4.00.  Please note that specially priced books, including many rare items, are not offered at the sale price on Friday or Saturday.  Come early, come often, and fill your shelves with plenty of great books to last you through the winter.  We also have many VCR tapes, DVDs, and other multimedia items available at bargain prices.  While you are there, don’t forget that you can become a friend of the library with yearly memberships beginning at only $10.  Just ask anyone working at the sale for a membership application.

Book Drop-Off Schedule Finalized; Book Donations Desperately Needed

The Friends’ of the Flint Public Library spring book sale concluded May 8th, and for the third consecutive sale, proceeds exceeded $6,000!  The downside of this unprecedented success is that our stock of used books, left over for future book sales, has been seriously depleted.  More than ever before, we  need your help.  Because the majority of books available at our book sales come from donations, it is extremely important that we increase the volume of donations in the coming months.  Our book sales depend on these donations, and without them, the continued success of our Library book sale will be in serious jeopardy.  Gently used books, tapes, CDs, and DVDs, may be dropped off at the library once each month, from 10 a.m. until noon, on the designated drop-off dates listed below.  Members of the Friends’ of the FPL will be available to assist you, at the garage door located at the southeast corner of the library.  Your donations are tax deductible, and receipts for your donations will be available upon request.  Thank you, in advance, for your support. 

Book Drop-Off Dates, 2010-2011

• June 5, 2010
• July 10, 2010
• August 7, 2010
• September 11, 2010
• October 2, 2010
• November 6, 2010
• December 4, 2010
• January 8, 2011
• February 5, 2011
• March 5, 2011
• April 2, 2011
• May 7, 2011

Spring Book Sale Set to Begin May 4th

  The Friends of the Flint Public Library spring used book sale is set to begin next week.  The sale kicks off Tuesday evening, from 6 to 8:30, when only Friends of the FPL will be admitted.  Memberships may be purchased prior to the sale at the library administrative office on the second floor of the library, and at the entrance to the sale, once it begins.  The public sale will commence on Wednesday and Thursday, May 5 and 6, again from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  For these three days, normal prices of $1.oo for hardcover books and $0.50 for paperbacks, will be charged.  Friday, books are two for the price of one, and the sale is open from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  The sale winds up Saturday, May 8, with the always popular bag day.  On this special day, from 10 a.m. until the sale closes at 5 p.m., a grocery bag full of books will cost $4.00.  Come show your support for the Friends, while you stock up for your summer reading.

Friends of FPL Welcome Author Doug Stanton

Doug Stanton, best-selling author of Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of U.S. Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan, will speak at the Main Branch of the Flint Public Library, on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at 7 p.m.   Mr. Stanton will appear at the library as part of the Friends’ annual meeting and celebration.  The event is open to the pubic, and a book sale, reception, and signing will follow.

Horse Soldiers spent over 3 months on the NY Times bestseller list, peaking at #2, and was named by Barnes & Noble as the 2009 Book of the Year.  It tells the incredible story of a band of special forces soldiers who were the first American soldiers to hit the ground ahead of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.  Outnumbered, 40 to 1, these brave soldiers rode to war against the Taliban on horseback, eventually capturing the strategically significant city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Come early, you’ll want to get a good seat for what promises to be a wonderful event.  Mr. Stanton’s presentation will immediately follow the Friends of the Flint Public Library annual meeting.

Final Days for Sports Creek Tickets

Tickets are still available for the Friends of FPL night at the races, but time is running out. Tickets for the event, scheduled for January 22nd will remain on sale until Monday, January 18. The $30 tickets can be purchased at the administration office on the second floor of the library’s main branch. Come on out and support your library.

Join Us for Friends’ Night at Sports Creek Raceway

Tickets for the annual Friends of the FPL fund-raiser at Sports Creek Raceway, scheduled for Friday, January 22, 2010, are now on sale at the library. In addition to providing much needed support for the Library, the $30 ticket includes free regular parking (valet service not included), a racing program, clubhouse admission, and access to a plentiful buffet dinner. The clubhouse opens at 5:30, dinner begins at 6:15, and the first race is at 7:00 p.m. Tickets must be purchased by January 12, and are available at the Library administration office, located on the second floor of the Main Branch, 1026 E. Kearsley. For tickets or more information, call (810) 249-2039.

January Book Drop-off Date Changed

Due to the holidays, the January book drop-off has been moved from the customary first Saturday of the month. Instead, the book drop-off has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. until noon, on Saturday, January 9th. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience resulting from this change. Books may be dropped off at the garage door, at the southeast corner of the Flint Public Library’s main branch, 1026 E. Kearsley. The book drop-off date will revert back to the first Saturday of the month for February and subsequent months.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, from the Friends of the Flint Public Library.