On May 4th, we concluded the 50th Used Book Sale run by the Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library. Over 900 people came to the sale and left with more books to read. We received over 25,000 books from local residents. We could not have done it without the help from residents who donated their books, the Westfield High School Community Service Club, the Westfield Public Information Office, the Westfield Board of Education, the Westfield Fire Department, ShopRite Wines & Spirits and the 60 plus volunteers who gave us their time and energy.

A special thanks goes to the Westfield Public Works Department who responded whenever we needed them and helped us recycle truckloads of cardboard and reusable bags, and to the entire staff of the Westfield Memorial Library for welcoming us every day and helping us at every point of the sale. We thank you all for your partnership with us.

Most of the books found new owners to read and treasure them. For the books that didn’t find homes at the sale, we donated some of them to New Legacy Books (working with the DPW), Better World Books, The Mitzvah Circle and the Lunchbox program in Plainfield, all which work to help promote literacy. In addition, some will be used in the seven Little Free Libraries run by the Friends in Westfield.

With donations and the support of everyone, we raised over $ 17,600. This will allow the Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library to continue to sponsor free passes to 28 museums, Saturday Children’s Programming, Books on Wheels, Sharing the Warmth, library programs for Black History Month, awards to Westfield Resident high school seniors, scholarships for library media students and continuing education for library staff, the Hale Speaker Series, Lucky Day Books, and the Native Seed Library.

We love that we live in a town that values reading as much as we do. Thank you.

Amy Berman

Michele Martin

Laura Skidmore

Audrey Zavetz

Friends of the Westfield Memorial Library