Friends of Samuel’s Library Launches Annual Book Sale

Looking for your next great read—and a great deal? The annual Friends of Samuel’s Library (FOSL) book sale is back at 330 E. Criser Road in the library’s combined Meeting Room A–B, with thousands of items priced to move and all proceeds supporting library services.

FOSL President Sydney Patton said last year’s sale brought in $8,000.10—“ten cents over our goal”—and this year the group is aiming higher. “We have a hefty goal, but I think we can do it,” she said, noting the 2025 target is $10,000 for the library.

The sale opens with a members-only preview on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. Members get first dibs and 20% off. Not a member yet? You can join at the door and walk right in with the discount. Memberships are tiered: $10 for students, $15 for seniors, $20 for individuals, $30 for families, $35 for businesses, and $50 for corporations.

Public hours are Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The closeout is Monday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., a “Name Your Price” day designed to keep good books in readers’ hands instead of returning them to storage. (Tip from the volunteers: don’t wait—early shoppers get the deepest selection.)

Where do all these books come from? Some are weeded from the library’s shelves as circulation changes, but the community donates most, Patton said. Because the year-round bookstore is small, FOSL can’t keep multiple copies or long series out all the time. “We pack them away and during the annual sale, we pull out everything that we just don’t have room for,” she said.

Expect a little bit of everything: fiction and nonfiction; kids’ books; history; sheet music; homeschooling materials; plus media—DVDs and DVD box sets, CDs, audiobooks, vinyl records, even some pop-culture leftovers from July’s one-day pop-up. “We always get a hodgepodge of things. We have a subwoofer speaker, laser discs from the ’80s and ’90s,” Patton said. “We fill up the entire room.”

FOSL is also coordinating with local book lovers for a community push. Royal Oak Bookshop celebrates its 50th year on Saturday, and Main Street Geek is joining the cross-promotion. The idea: make the weekend a town-wide celebration of reading—and readers.

Beyond bargains, the sale powers real services. Funds support the library’s digital content and other needs throughout the year. Patton said the community’s support—through memberships, shopping, and donations—turns into a real impact for patrons.

If you go:

• Members-only preview: Thursday, 5–7:30 p.m. (join at the door; 20% off)
• Public sale: Friday & Saturday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• “Name Your Price” day: Monday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Location: Samuel’s Public Library, 330 E. Criser Rd., Front Royal (Meeting Room A–B)

“We have so much cool stuff,” Patton said. “You’ll want first dibs.”