Bookstore aids Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Library organization is extending their half-price book sale through January to raise more money for the Russellville Public Library.
“There are lots of books to chose from in the book store: fiction and non-fiction books, cookbooks, children’s books and videos,” librarian Deborah Barnett said.
“There’s probably something for any type of reader.
“Because most of these books are donated to us, some of them are new and you would probably pay $22 for them if you bought them at Books-a-Million,” she added.
“Our books here are reasonably priced, especially now that they’re on sale for half-off.”
Barnett said the book store, located in a room at the back of the library, was first utilized around eight or nine years ago.
“This room was formerly the genealogy room but when those materials got moved to the archives building years ago, we gave this room to the Friends of the Library to use as their book store.”
The money raised by the Friends of the Library organization is used to purchase new books for the library’s circulation and to purchase other materials that the library might need.
The money also supports preschool reading programs the library hosts from time to time.
“Our library receives a certain amount of money from the state but that amount has cut for the past three years now,” Barnett said.
“This is a small library in a relatively small community so every little bit of support that we receive is important.”
Barnett has always stressed the importance of the public library and the service it provides to the community.
“We offer resources that people in the community cannot find or don’t have access to, especially now that we offer the job center,” she said.
“This library plays an important role in the community.”
Frequent visitor Sandra Burleson said that the Russellville Public Library is important enough for her to drive from Hackleburg every two weeks to use the library’s resources.
“This is the only way that some of us have access to books and to the internet,” Burleson said.
“The service is great and Deborah is always so helpful and friendly. It’s just nice to have a place like this in the area that is open to the public.”
