Longboat Library hosts first book sale of 2021

A gaggle of grateful Longboat Key readers returned to their local library for the first time in nearly a year with the Longboat Library book sale.

After getting rained out on Saturday, Longboat Library shoppers enjoyed a sunny day on Sunday as they browsed tables of used books, puzzles, games and audiobooks on the library’s lawn. 

“We’re thrilled that so many people knew to come back (after yesterday),” longtime volunteer Bonney Libman said. “Before COVID you could’ve just moved it inside (Saturday).”

The book sale was the prologue to more library activities. After spending a year with doors shut due to COVID-19, the boutique, membership-driven library will reopen March 16. Normally, there are several book sales throughout the year, but the winter season one is usually the biggest. 

“This is the big sale, and it’s more important than ever,” volunteer Len Libman said. “The normal intake of money was cut down because of COVID.”

The library is run entirely by volunteers and its only sources of income are memberships and the book sales. Memberships have been down since the closure, Bonney Libman said, and book sales were put on hold, but the library began to recoup some of its lost income at Sunday's sale. A new lifetime member signed up and the sale brought in customers enthusiastic for the full return of the library. 

“We’ve had a good turnout,” library President Mary Baker said. “People seem to be very pleased we’re opening.”

A robust crew of volunteers staffed the sale, organized the indoor shelves and took breaks with new books.

Shoppers rolled up on bikes or strolled over from tennis or Publix shopping. The sale got going fast, as an influx of early bird shoppers showed up right at noon. Volunteers soon had to bring out extra boxes of books to replenish the tables, but luckily a few book donations came in during the sale, too. 

“We got here at 12:15 and people were already buying,” Bonney Libman said.

Puzzles went fast as people returned to early pandemic forms of entertainment. Sue Reese picked up one for herself, as well as books to give to family members. Philip Deming browsed the biographies in search of a fresh read, and Joan Patridge and Gene Campbell left with an exciting new book and plans to volunteer once the library reopens, respectively.

“We’re excited about anything being open,” Partridge said.