“I love books, but I really like people”

WILKS-BORE – On Saturday afternoon, the North Branch of the Osterhout Free Library enjoyed good reading and good food as Osterhout friends held annual book, basket and pastry sales.

The library has been holding annual book sales for about 12 years since the Northern Branch moved to its current home on Oliver Street in Wilkes-Barre, according to librarian Joan Austin.

Austin has worked in the North Branch for about the same amount of time (although she has been a librarian for longer), and she said she is very happy to see the turnout for book sales, especially when it comes to young readers.

“It’s amazing to see kids find something to take home,” Austin said. “Someone bought a whole stack of Harry Potter books from us.”

Everything was on the bookshelves at a great price: hardcover sold for only a dollar, and paperback for 50 cents. Children’s books were even cheaper.

A popular option was that for $ 5 customers could take a bag provided by Osterhout and fill it as much as they could fit.

On one side of the room was a section of “Baking” as part of the sale of books, baskets and pastries – a long table filled with delicious desserts, cookies, cakes and more.

In the afternoon, a basket of prizes was also drawn, and all proceeds went to the North Branch of Osterhout.

Austin stood at the table for the raffle and said the sale was in full swing right after the door opened at 11am.

She said she liked most the visitors, members of the community who frequently visit the library.

“I like books, but I really like the people here,” she said.