Eren Tataragasi

Richmond County Daily Journal

As a way to fund programs and other needs of the Thomas H. Leath Memorial Library in Rockingham, The Friends of the Library will host its annual used book sale from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on Oct. 17.

Used books will be accepted until Oct. 6.

Cassandra Crump, president of the Friends of the Library, said money from the book sale will go to help fund the summer reading program, a speaker for the April business meeting for the community and new folding tables. The money the Friends raise throughout the year also provides bonuses to library employees at Christmas as well as a Christmas lunch.

“With budget cuts the library is understaffed right now and part-time positions have been taken away, so they really need us,” Crump said. “They have tables that have broken in the Calvin Little Room and there’s no room in the budget for that. We help when we can.”

Crump said an important part of the work the Friends do is getting the community to come in and enjoy the library by bringing in speakers and reading seminars.

And even though many people are starting to turn to reading more books online, or on their Kindles, Crump said the library is still a vital part of the community.

“Libraries are always updating and the computers they’ve got now are always used,” Crump said, emphasizing that the library is trying to keep up with the times. “(The staff) print for people, make copies, there’s magazines and newspapers to read, I always like to see people just reading in a comfy chair. People of all ages, all walks of life go to the library and, particularly in these economic times, a great way to get free entertainment is to check out a book.”

Crump said the library’s genealogy room has been a big draw for the community as well.

And as a librarian herself at Ellerbe Middle School, Crump said she loves the library’s support and involvement with the public schools in the county. Every year during the Battle of the Books between area elementary and middle schools, the library sets books aside in a special section so the students have those books available to them to participate in the competition.

“The library is really receptive to the public and enjoys serving the public,” Crump said.

And this book sale is just the Friends’ way of making sure the library has the money and equipment they need to continue to provide a vital service to the community.

For more information about the Friends or the book sale, call Crump at 410-9070 or the library at 895-6337.