Big book sale returning to Farm Show grounds
This spring’s Butler County Bookfest is adding a few new chapters to one of the largest used book sales in the area.
First, the collection of more than 100,000 books, CDs, game system cartridges, audio books and vinyl records is expanding into a second exhibit hall on the Butler Farm Show grounds, 625 Evans City Road, Connoquenessing Township.
The first building will be set up primarily with book tables and information tables for the three participating libraries, South Butler Community Library, Prospect Community Library and Slippery Rock Community Library. The second hall will hold the special events added to the Bookfest this year.
Second, the days of the event have been changed. The days for this Bookfest are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April 28 to 30, and May 1 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 2.
Michelle Lesniak, director of the South Butler Community Library which is benefiting from the sale’s proceeds along with the Prospect and Slippery Rock public libraries, said, “We’ve expanded into a second exhibit hall because of the special events we wanted to have, and we needed more space for books and media.
“We have quite the selection of media in addition to books. It’s growing, and we will have more space,” Lesniak said.
This year, Ben Wilkinson of Mr. Bookman used book store in Franklin, will be bringing all types of books — romance, mystery, children's, history, crafts, art, education, science, self-help, faith, Westerns, science fiction and more in hardcover and paperback.
Lesniak said the books available for sale will be from Wilkinson’s stock, not books that had been donated to her library.
“He’s not taking anything directly from us. There’s no transfer of books from the library. We have our own used bookstore,” she said.
Third, the Bookfest is adding two special events.
From 2 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 28, the Butler County Week of the Young Child Celebration will allow grade-school children to receive a free book, participate in story times, yoga, music programs, crafts and games by early childhood vendors, and visit the pretend play areas.
“It’s put on by the Early Care & Education Council. They haven’t had an event since COVID,” Lesniak said. “They will have special programs at 2:30, 4 and 6 p.m. There will be a lot of activities under the ‘Learning Everywhere’ theme.”
From 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 29, the local author showcase will offer a chance to browse the tables of many authors from the community.
“We want to help them with exposure. There will be at least a dozen writers. People can see how they work. They will sell and sign books,” Lesniak said. “They are open to sharing their time.
“It’s hard for a local writer to make it on Amazon. They need the local community to support them and be more aware of the books and they stories they are trying to share,” she said.
The three participating libraries will supply volunteers to run the checkouts, process sales and bag books. Library volunteers also will help set up the tables and displays before the sale starts.
Shari Hunt, director of the Prospect Community Library, said, “I think we are sending 10 volunteers, seven from our library friends group — PCL Bookends — and three from our teen advisory board.
“Myself and Suzanne Adams, the children’s librarian, will fill inasmuch as we can, ” she said. This will be the third time the Prospect library has participated in the Bookfest.
Lesniak said there will be six volunteers at the fest at all times.
Books will go for $4 or less on the first day, $3 or less on the second day and on down to the final day of the sale May 2, when books will be sold for $10 a bagful.
“I expect we will get most of the activity on the first day. A lot of people want to come out because they want the first pick,” Lesniak said.
Lesniak said the last Bookfest raised $4,500 that was split among the participating libraries.
Hunt said, “For a library, anything that we can raise at this point helps. Even if it’s a small amount, it is giving back to the library.
“Michelle does a fantastic job in coordinating all of this,” Hunt said. “It’s an important community event to get books into the hands of people.”
