Let’s Go Behind the Scenes with the Blount Co. Friends of the Library
There’s a surprise hiding in the basement of the library. Actually, there’s 50,000 of them.
The Blount County Friends of the Library want you to know that the basement of the Blount County Public Library, while normally closed to the public, is open for a few days, four times a year, with a huge sale of books and more.
We went behind the scenes—and under the library—to discover what makes the Friends of the Library book sale so unique!
The elevator and stairs to the basement are tucked into a corner near the Reference Department, just past the Friends’ in-house bookstore and beside the sports “Wall of Fame” corner.
On March 6-8, that elevator and stairway will be open for the quarterly sale, which generates revenue that supports all library programming, from kids’ crafts to info sessions for seniors, plus concerts, plays, seed swaps, and more.
On Thursday, March 6, from noon to 6 p.m., the sale is only open to Friends members, but you can join at the door for only $15 per year ($20 for a family). Friday and Saturday, March 7-8, the sale is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (And yes, for your convenience, the sale does take cards as well as cash.)
Once downstairs, the space opens up into a vast “superstore” with rows and rows of shelves and tables. The 50,000 items include not only books (most priced at $2 or less) but also puzzles, games, movies, and gifts. It’s easy to get lost in the maze while you browse, but maps are posted all around the space.
Kari Masson, communications assistant for the BCFOL, said that about 130 Friends volunteers work in the basement space off and on, but when it’s book sale time, all hands are on deck. She herself has volunteered with the Friends of the Library since she moved to the area, and when she’s not working on communications, she helps organize the foreign language section.
Many volunteers, like Masson, have a particular section they focus on, keeping it organized, showcasing special selections, and weeding out outdated items. They’ll be there in force this weekend, and they love to answer questions about their work.
“We just love the library,” Masson said with a smile, giving a tour of the basement’s impressive offerings. “It’s important!”
Part of the basement is marked off for the Friends of the Library eBay store, which sells books year-round; the online sales were one of the reasons the Friends were able to weather COVID quarantine, when in-person sales had to be curtailed. Together, the eBay and in-person sales brought in nearly $200,000 in 2024—every cent of which goes to support the library.
Explore the library basement and pick up a great book (or six) at the sale. If you miss it, don’t worry: The whole operation revs up again the first weekend in June with help from the Friends of the Library.
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