Community Corner

Beatley Central Library Book Sale Branches Out

Event includes jewelry and art sale, book expert, face painting, pet portraits and more.

The Friends of the Beatley Central Library Book Sale in April will offer more than just books this spring.

The popular sale will be April 18 through 21 at the library, located at 5005 Duke St., and will offer books, audiobooks and music CDs. Friends President Eileen Bradley said the last book sale, in October, raised a record $18,000.

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“We make our book sale an event—it’s not just to come to the book sale to get books, of which we have 20,000, all sorts of genres,” Bradley said. “It’s well-organized. It’s as though you were going to a bookstore.”

She added: “We’re happy to do it. We need to raise the money. We have a good cause, the library.”

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Book genres will include children’s books, fiction, romance, science fiction, mysteries, classic literature, biographies, history, home and garden, art, business, politics, health, women’s interest, African American interest, human, travel, geography, vintage books, sports and physical fitness, reference, poetry, foreign language, comic books and gift books.

Prices for adult books are $1 for paperbacks and $3 for hardbacks. Prices for children’s books are 50 cents for paperbacks and $1 for hardbacks. Some rarer books are specially priced at under $10.

Donations can be brought to the library during regular hours of operation, or you can arrange a pickup by calling the information desk at 703-746-1702 or emailing FriendsOfBeatleyLibrary@gmail.com. All funds raised will go to support Beatley library programs.

On April 19, 20 and 21, Cafe Pizzaiolo of Cameron Station will be selling specialities from their menu, with a share of proceeds going to the Friends. On the same days, Global Boutique will return to sell African-made wares, including jewelry, artwork, handbags, shirts and more.

From 12 to 2 p.m. April 20, the Friends will hold an Antique Book Road Show with Allan Stypeck, an expert in old and rare books from Second Story Books. Stypeck is an accredited senior member of the American Society of Appraisers with more than 30 years of experience. He'll help library patrons determine the value of the books they choose to bring in.

In a treat for pet owners, Lil' Pals will bring its mobile photography studio to the library between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 20 to take a photograph of your pet—a “pet portrait.” The “sitting fee” for each photograph will be $10, and all proceeds will benefit the Friends.

The event will also include face painting to children of all ages in the children's department and a storytime on April 20.

Hours of the sale are:

  • April 18: 4 to 8:30 p.m., Members’ Preview (memberships are available at the door for $10)
  • April 19: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
  • April 20: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • April 21: 1 to 4:30 p.m.


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