Treasures of our Memorial Library The book sales organized and operated by the Friends of the Library have long been a stellar feature of the library's year. Not only have they provided a tremendous stimulus to our clients' reading, and to Library membership, they have also been a huge item in raising funds. In any one year when the Casino Nights have been held, they have raised more funds for us than the book sales, but the latter have been staged over a longer period of years and have, in total, achieved greater results. Our book sales have been held every year since 1982 -sometimes twice a year, once for "hardbacks" and once for "paperbacks". The size of each sale has depended to an important extent on the size of die area allotted for the sale and, perhaps even more, on the facilities available for the sorting of the books prior to the sale itself, hi the earlier years of the sales, sorting had to be done in a tiny, dingy, ill-lit room, outside the main building, and down in the ravine on its eastern side. This little hole was known as "The Dungeon" From there, the sorted books had to be lugged up steps for display and sale. Over the years, sorting has also been carried out in the small basement of our Technical Services Department and, on one occasion, in the basement and garage of one of our generous members! In 1992, the sale was held for the first time in the cavernous ice arena. That year, the heavy boxes of books had to be hauled up the stairs from the sorting area in the Technical Services Department to a waiting van, which ferried them to the arena. There, volunteers did a tremendous amount of work in setting up the tables and arranging the books in their 'proper sections. Immediately after the sale, we had to reverse the procedures, including dismantling and stacking the tables. "Operation Ice Arena" lasted for three years. One year, the sale was held outdoors, in the Library's front courtyard (now demolished). Finally, in 1995, the Library was able to assign a large portion of its generous new basement for die sorting of the books and the actual sale .... a splendid help for all those involved. These fine new quarters have spared us from many of the trials and tribulations we freed in earlier years, such as the time our book stocks were threatened by a leaky roof above us. Our book sales have been immensely popular with the public and with the Friends. In their early years, they usually raised about $2,500 to $3,500 annually. Our top "take" from the event - $7,680 - was raised in 1993 - but the amount for each of the last two years topped $7,000 each time. The book sale offers a marvellous opportunity for many Friends to work together on the multitude of tasks involved in planning, preparation and operation, hi some instances, this is the only occasion on which we meet up with Friends from year to year. Through its high profile publicity, it has also proven a successful event in recruiting new Friends to our membership. So, mark your calendars with the dates of June 21 and 22, with the preview on the evening of June 20. Sorting starts on May 12, so please also check if you have any time available before the sale for book sorting. COME ONE, COME ALL! Join the fun of the Fair