Friends of the Library book sale returns to Tell City branch

The Friends of the Library spring book sale returned to the Tell City branch with a members-only pre-sale Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m., then opened to the public Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2328 Tell Street. The sale, held during National Library Week, also included a silent auction.

The Friends of the Perry County Public Library is a 501(c)(3) member-supported nonprofit that backs the Tell City, Cannelton and Bookmobile branches. Membership dues are $5 for an individual, $10 for a family and $100 for a lifetime membership, giving residents a low-cost way to support the system while getting first access to events like the spring sale.

Funds raised by the group help sponsor programs and purchase items for the library, including the annual Schweizer Fest book sale, author visits, book signings, other cultural events and special programs for children and young adults. The Friends group meets quarterly to plan those efforts, and the sale remains one of its most visible fundraisers.

Perry County Public Library says it serves all county residents through three branch locations and outreach services, offering materials, resources and services for education, information and recreation. Through the Evergreen Indiana consortium, patrons have access to millions of books across the state, extending the value of each local branch well beyond its own shelves.

The Tell City sale also ties into a deeper local story. Perry County Public Library says it was established in 1893, and historical materials show the Tell City-Perry County Public Library formed after a 1996 merger before joining with the Cannelton Library District in January 2012. Friends-funded projects, along with support from the Perry County Community Foundation and the Tell City Historical Society, helped create the Perry County Newspaper & Yearbook Digital Archive, adding a lasting payoff to the group’s fundraising work.

For Tell City families, the book sale offered a simple way to stretch a budget and back a public institution that serves readers, students, researchers and children across the county. The bargain tables and silent auction gave the fundraiser its immediate appeal, while the proceeds helped keep library programming and services moving across Perry County.