Friends of the Rosebank Library will host its last book sale on 26 January with the aim to clear all remaining stock.
The voluntary association, which seeks to encourage the community to support the library, has expressed great sadness over their decision to stop book sales but said the sales failed to generate enough profit due to a lack of customers.
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“The Rosebank Library has been under threat of relocation for the last three or four years,” explained Judy Stockill, chairperson of the Friends of the Rosebank Library.
“Readers have found alternative libraries and the borrower numbers at Rosebank have dwindled to a trickle. In the past, borrowers who saw the monthly book sale sign were our biggest customer base,” said Stockhill.
Stockill also said the lack of quality books in their stock is one of the major issues which have led to the decision to end the sales.
“We used to receive donations of good books from people who were downsizing and forced to clear their own libraries and from deceased estates. Now many potential donors first call in the secondhand book dealers who buy the better books and then donate only the remnants to the library.”
Other reasons stated by the chairperson for the ending of the book sales were the lack of volunteers as well as the inability to purchase new books which are expensive.
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“Times have changed and the Friends of the Rosebank Library is one of the casualties of change. We are sorry about the end of an era.”
Through appeals to the public, the association collected many interesting books for a number of the City’s libraries and with money raised, purchased new books for avid readers. All books that were not sold have been made available to charities and institutions.
“The future of the Friends of the Rosebank Library Book Club is undecided and the next meeting of the book club is on 2 February.”
The book sale will take place between 9am and 4pm at the Rosebank Library on 8 Keyes Avenue. All books will be sold at R10 each.
Details: Rosebank Library 011 442 8988.
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