Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

BOOKWORMS REJOICE!

Barb’s Used Book Sale opens new chapter to raise funds for Kamloops Symphony

Apr 11, 2024 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — A bi-annual fundraiser is on until April 20 at St. Andrew’s on the Square. Barb’s Used Book Sale has the heritage church filled to the brim with books and music, just waiting for someone to come and take it home.

Barb’s Used Book Sale is a fundraiser for the Kamloops Symphony, which takes place twice a year — in April and October — and is currently held in downtown Kamloops at St. Andrews on the Square.

Annually, Barb’s Used Book Sale can bring around $75,000 for the Kamloops Symphony, which is crucial for the organization’s day-to-day operations, especially when you consider that the community has donated all the books sold.

“What you see basically is what I call recycling at its finest,” Sue Adams, office administrator with the Kamloops Symphony, explains. “When books are read, they come into our sale, they’re sorted downstairs, and then they come up the stairs for re-sale. Some of these books are brand new. All of them are wonderful.”

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Are the B.C. Conservatives digging their own graves?

17h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Culturally appropriate food goes beyond the ingredients on a plate

Dec 14, 2024

Two and Out

PETERS: Whether building up or tearing down, Kamloops is what you make it

Dec 13, 2024

The symphony is no longer taking donations for the April edition of the sale. Still, volunteers sort new books and add to the inventory every half hour throughout the day. While prices have gone up this year, the selection is amazing, and you’ll still be paying a fraction of the price of a new book.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

“The books are a dollar for kids’ books, two dollars for youth novel-type books, and three dollars for regular ones. We’ve had to increase our [prices] this year to three dollars, but it’s still such a deal,” Adams explains. “We could not do this without people donating the books and without the incredible volunteers. The volunteer support we have at this sale is outstanding.”

Barb’s Used Book Sale Runs from noon until 5:00 pm Monday through Friday, from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm on Saturday, and from noon until 4:00 pm on Sundays. The sale runs until April 20th.