Like all non-profit organizations, the Southwest Harbor Public Library must conduct several fundraising events each year. We try to offer a variety of fundraisers in order to appeal all members of the community. However, one event is held year in and year out and that is the ANNUAL USED BOOK SALE also known as, THE BIG BOOK SALE. It is held the first weekend in August. Visitors to the Island have told us that they plan their vacation around our sale!

A huge selection of books is available ranging from simple board books for babies to esoteric titles for the aficionado with everything in-between: fiction, nonfiction, games, puzzles, tapes and DVDs. The books and other materials are donated by people from the area and from places far from Southwest Harbor. A reading group in New York City ships donated books on a regular basis.

A devoted group of volunteers sorts, prices and stores the donations in "Sorting Center" in the basement of the library. One of the volunteers dons his hard hat to protect his head as he carries cartons of books to be stored into a low ceilinged area of "The Dungeon" as we’ve affectionately dubbed it!

In the past few years, we’ve added new components to our Book Sales. They are:

THE PAPERBACK BOOK SALE, which is held in conjunction with the Quietside Festival. It takes place on a Saturday in mid-July.

THE HOLIDAY BOOK SALE held on a Saturday in early December offering donated books in excellent condition that can be given as holiday gifts. It is a festive occasion and allows patrons to purchase gently used, greatly loved books at affordable prices.

We have also recently added a CONTINUING BOOK SALE. We cull the donations for recent, desirable books of all kinds to put on our cart [soon to be shelves, we hope!] that is located near the Library’s circulation desk. We have many return customers who check the cart on a regular basis to see what is available.

We’ve just started selling books on eBay. We offer books that we feel will benefit from exposure to a larger audience.

We’re very appreciative of the many thousands of books donated to us each year. The monies realized from the sale of used books have provided financial support to the Southwest Harbor Public Library. Clean used books - no manuals, magazines, condensed books, textbooks or dated manuals, please - are gratefully accepted at the Library. We will arrange for pickup of donations, too. Please call the Library if you have questions.

Consult the Library Calendar, by clicking on it in the button bank at the left of this page, for the actual date for each of our Sales.