Wilton Library's Annual Gigantic Book Sale is This Weekend

Books have been cleaned, sorted and polished up for display, tables are being adjusted and fine-tuned, and final preparations are underway for Wilton Library’s Annual Gigantic Book Sale, taking place Saturday, April 23 through Tuesday, April 26 in the library’s gallery, Book Cellar and Brubeck Room. With more than 70,000 items categorized in more than 50 subject headings, this sale is one of the biggest the library has seen. Early buyers are welcomed on Saturday, from 7 to 9 a.m. with an early admission fee of $15. The sale then opens to the general public with no fees from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. On Sunday, the sale is available from noon to 5 p.m.; Monday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with items going for half price, and on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., shoppers can take away items at $5 per bag which will be supplied by the library. The Rotary Club of Wilton will be selling hot dogs and sodas at lunch time on Saturday with proceeds benefiting the library. A silent auction of rare and collectible books will take place during sale hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Bob Russell, who oversees the rare and collectible silent auction commented, “Once again we have a great selection of books that will entice any knowing buyer.” The silent auction list includes some tantalizing titles for savvy collectors including a signed, 1979 edition of Ansel Adams: Yosemite and the Range of Light in like-new condition; a 3-volume set of Churchill and Roosevelt: Complete Correspondence, and Certain People: A Book of Portraits by Robert Mapplethorpe from 1985 in perfect condition with beautiful full-page portraits. The full list of silent auction items may be found on the library’s website at www.wiltonlibrary.org by clicking on the Gigantic Book Sale icon on the library’s homepage. The list is divided into Art & Literature, Children’s, History, Literature, Miscellaneous, Science and Nature and Sets with close to 150 items.

Pat Gould, one of the three chairs of the library’s all-important fundraiser, remarked, “Over the past few years we have been overwhelmed by the response from the community. Our book bins on Godfrey Place are overflowing with quality donations. It takes a crew of dedicated volunteers working all year long to keep us on top of our game.”

Janet Zuckerman, another chair concurred, “As soon as we think we’re ahead, more donations come in. It is a major undertaking yet so gratifying that we’re able to provide funds to the library each and every year through this annual sale.”

Lila Griswold, another tri-chair noted, “It doesn’t end here. With the books, CDs, DVDs and books on CDs that we receive in new and like-new condition, we’ve been able to increase our offerings in the gallery throughout the year, participate in the annual Wilton Sidewalk Sale with a robust book sale outdoors in July, mount a newly-expanded Awesome Autumn Book Sale in September and provide wonderful holiday gifts for the public to buy throughout the month of December.”

Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in the heart of Wilton Center. For more information about the book sale and silent auction, and directions, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org or call the circulation desk at 203-762-6334.

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Pictured here are just a few of the hardworking volunteers who make this fundraiser possible: back row (l-r) Phil Cannella, Michael Fein, Ed MacEwen, Amy Kirk, JoAnn Ciavarelli, Pat Tully, Jim Burch, Linda Cannella, Barbara Quincy, Barbara Quist, Kit Smith, Jan MacEwen, Nancy Wollard; front row seated (l-r): Jan Galletly, Sally Kirk, Michaela Durkin, Linda Fein and Pat Gould.