The Friends of the Great Bend Public Library is accepting donations during the weeks leading up to the annual used book sale in the fourth week of October.
Friends would appreciate any book donations made toward the sale be brought to the library before Monday, Oct. 7, or wait until after Oct. 22, spokeswoman Carol Woodmansee said. The library is located at 1409 Williams St. Donated books can be brought during library hours to the library’s service entrance off Stone Street or to the circulation desk.
The book sale will be open to the public Oct. 20-22. The sale will be held in the library basement meeting room and may be accessed by stairs or elevator. Prices will range from 50 cents for paperbacks to $1 for hardbacks. Members of the Friends group will be working the sale.
Members will have “early bird” access to the books on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 19, from 1-3:30 p.m. Woodmansee noted that  Friends’ memberships of $10 per person or $25 per family can be purchased any time.  
The book sale is only one of a number ways library patrons can support and promote the library in our community. The organization is always looking for new project ideas and opportunities, and are looking for members with varying interests and abilities to help strengthen the library’s visibility in the community, sponsors said.     
Over the past year the Friends group has maintained a Book Store in the library, selling hardbacks for $3 and paperbacks for $1. This year the store held a half-price sale during National Library Week.
Friends have also donated funds toward the new circulation desk and new furniture in the children’s department. They have purchased flowers for the flower pots at the entrances, yard signs promoting the annual book sale, media carousels for dispensing DVDs at the circulation desk, and display shelving for the ends of the book shelves. Funds and time have also been given to the aid the activities of the children’s Summer Reading Program and the open house after the Christmas parade. Members have also shown appreciation to the Great Bend Public Library and the Central Kansas Systems Library employees with a luncheon and treats during National Library Week.
All members of the community are invited and welcome to participate in the sale either as members of Friends or as patrons of the library.