Are You a Book Lover? Check Out the Bay Area’s Public Library Sales

For all the bibliophiles in the Bay Area, there’s a budget-friendly alternative to buying new books: used book sales, regularly held on behalf of local public libraries.

These sales, organized by nonprofit Friends of the Public Library groups and often run by volunteers, have become a routine avenue for the libraries to raise funds — meaning your bargain hunting goes to a good cause.

“Last year, we raised $150,000 for the library,” said Virginia Perry, a longtime Friends of the Palo Alto Library volunteer who noted the library uses these funds to “update their technology and support services for seniors and teens.”

• Jump straight to: The upcoming used book sales in the Bay Area

Sven-Erik Geddes, who previously worked for the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, now manages volunteer engagement at the Friends of the Palo Alto Library.

“Part of the thrill of this [job] is just meeting all the other book lovers,” he said.

The Friends of the Palo Alto Library receives up to 40 thousand donations in a typical month, Geddes said. His team of volunteers then goes through each of those donations, preparing to stock the shelves for the monthly book sale.

If the idea of exploring stacks of used books for sale sounds good to you, keep reading for our guide to the Bay Area’s many Friends of the Library sales — including how to maximize your chances of finding a bargain.

What exactly is a “Friends of the Library” group?

Friends of the Libraries are community-based, nonprofit organizations that work to support the public libraries around the country. In the Bay Area, some of the earliest examples of this concept are the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, formed in 1950, and the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, founded in 1961.

If you don’t have an active Friends group for your library, this toolkit from the American Library Association outlines how you can either start one or revitalize an existing group.

Who can shop at the Friends of the Library sales?

Most of these sales are open to the public and free to enter. Some Friends organizations offer early access or steeper discounts to their members or host members-only sale events in addition to their public events.

If this is tempting you to join one of these organizations yourself, membership fees typically consist of small annual donations, with discounted rates for students and seniors. For example, the Friends of the Oakland Public Library membership requires a $15 donation from students and seniors, and a $25 donation from everyone else.

Pro tips for attending a Friends of the Library sale

Go early

In-demand books will be the first to get snatched, so aim to be there on the first day of the sale when it opens — especially if you are seeking out a specific title. Resellers go for these “high-value” items as soon as they’re able, so if you’re late, they’ll have already been snapped up.

Bring a sturdy bag

It’s easy to get carried away when you can pick books off the shelf knowing they’re reasonably priced. If you end up with more than a couple of books to carry home, you might regret the stylish tote bag you paired with your outfit — so this is the time to bring that unglamorous, heavy-duty bag in your closet.

Cash is queen

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you find yourself wanting to check out with just one book, you might not be able to use a card to pay. Some sales might also be cash-only to begin with. It’s better to be prepared than to have to run to the ATM, so just as you would when heading to a flea market, make sure you bring a little cash.

Follow local groups on social media for latest updates

While more elaborate sales events are usually announced weeks or months in advance, Friends of the Library groups sometimes host impromptu sales to make room for incoming donations. Follow these organizations on the social platforms they typically make announcements on, like Instagram, so you don’t miss out.

What if I want to donate my books to one of these sales?

The Friends of the Public Libraries run on donated goods, but bear in mind that many of them will pause donations in the lead up to a big sale event, to focus on sorting the books they have already collected.

Check their websites for a list of acceptable donation items, the number of books you can donate without an appointment, and when they will be accepting donations. Some organizations will even offer to pick up your donations from your home.

Upcoming used book sales around the Bay Area

San Francisco

The Friends of the San Francisco Public Library hosts a monthly book sale at the Friends Donation Center, located in Potrero Hill at 1630 17th Street. The next announced sales are slated to take place Feb. 6-7, March 6-7 and April 3-4. Details here.

Oakland

The Friends of the Oakland Public Library has a bookstore, The Bookmark, in Downtown Oakland at 933 Broadway and is open daily.

The Bookmark hosts a monthly half-off sale on the third Saturday of every month for its members and a public 30% discount the following day, on the third Sunday of every month. Details here.

Palo Alto

The Friends of the Palo Alto Library hosts monthly sales at Cubberley Community Center (4000 Middlefield Rd.) in Palo Alto, typically on the second full weekend of every month. Their next sale takes place Feb. 14-15. Details here.

The Friends of the Palo Alto Library gives away books following each monthly sale, and teachers and nonprofits can get free books from their bargain room on the Sunday right after the sale ends. Everyone else can get free books from the bargain room on the Monday after a sale.

San José

The Friends of San José Public Libraries have sale events at various branches, so check your local library for times and dates. The West Valley branch of the library will hold sales this year on Feb. 7-8, May 2-3, July 11-12, Sept. 12-13 and Nov. 14-15.

The Bascom branch will have a sale on Feb. 21. The Almaden branch will host a book sale on Apr. 18, in addition to a monthly teen book sale on the third Saturday of every month. Details here.

Menlo Park

The Friends of the Menlo Park Library, located inside the main branch, will host their sales this year on March 20-21, July 24-25 and Nov. 13-14. Details here.

Santa Rosa

The Friends of the Santa Rosa Libraries will host their annual sale in October at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Details here.

Guerneville

River Friends of the Guerneville Library has upcoming book & bake sales on April 25-26, Aug. 27-30 and Dec. 5. Details here.

Napa

The Friends of the Napa Library will host sales during the weeks of April 18-26, Aug. 22-30 and Dec. 5-13. Details here.