This is an update to an article originally published on February 15, 2022.
More than a quarter of a million second-hand books, along with thousands of other items, including rare items on a new table of “vintage treasures”, will attract readers of all ages as the big annual sale of books returns to the old Bon-Ton building starting Monday, May 23.
Proceeds benefit the Lancaster Public Library.
The big book sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, May 23; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25 (half-price day) at the former Bon-Ton space in Park City Center.
The Friends of Lancaster Public Library volunteer group will fill tables with many genres of books, from fiction and non-fiction to history, science, cookbooks and more.
Prices start at 50 cents for paperbacks and $2 for hardbacks. Individually priced books, including collectible and current fiction and non-fiction books, will be on sale at designated tables.
The “Vintage Treasures” table – new to this year’s sale – will be located near the checkout tables and will include items such as historical Lancaster County atlases, as well as odd-sized, older and slightly older books. dear, says Pat Ditzler, president of book operations for the group of friends.
There will also be thousands of other items for sale including CDs, DVDs, vinyl albums, puzzles and games.
Over 100 bullfighting books will also be included in the sale.
Diztler says the sale will offer more crossword puzzles, toys and games this year than last.
The sale will also have a new chairman – the first man to hold the title, Ditzler says. This is Ron Adams, pastor of the Landisville Mennonite Church and long-time volunteer.
The 2021 Big Book Sale raised a record $143,327 last year for Lancaster Public Library programs, Ditzler says.
In other news, The Friends Group Winter Book Sale, held February 11-13 at the Book ReSort donation center on North Marshall Street, raised just under 15,400 $ for the library — a record for this sale, Ditzler says.
The big book sale had previously taken place at Franklin & Marshall College’s Alumni Sports & Fitness Center, but had to be moved to 2020 when the facility was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ditzler says the Bon-Ton has been a great place to sell books, with plenty of space for book buyers to spread out while looking for bargains and waiting to pay for their purchases.