'Community Day of Fun' Offers Used Books, Healthy Treats

Whether you're a foodie, a bibliophile or just like to see and be seen, you're going to want to stop by Lower Macungie Middle School on Saturday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and check out an event that's becoming known as the "Community Day of Fun."

The anticipated annual spring-time event combines a mega used book sale, organized by the Friends of the Emmaus Public Library, with a Nutrition Health and Safety Fair, organized by Nutrition Inc., the food service provider of the East Penn School District.

This year's book sale—the 15th annual Used Book Sale—begins in the school cafeteria at 7 a.m. when an estimated 18,000 used books go on public sale, with many priced as low as 50 cents. Arranged by category for easier shopping, the books will include recent fiction, health and wellness topics, mysteries, histories, biographies, cook books, hobbies, business, literature and children’s books. A special section of first edition and rare books will be also be available for sale at market prices.

During the last hour of the book sale, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., shoppers can enjoy even greater bargains during a “brown bag book blowout," when they can pay $4 to stuff a standard brown paper grocery bag with as many books as possible. (3 bags for $10.) Recyclable grocery bag like those sold at supermarkets can also be used.

The Friends ask that shoppers bring their own bag or bags.

The book sale benefits the Emmaus Public Library, located at 11 E. Main St., Emmaus and, according to the Friends, since the inception of these annual one-day sales, their organization has raised more than $100,000 for the Emmaus Library.

Hungry shoppers need not worry, as the Nutrition Health and Safety Fair overlaps with the book sale for part of the day. From 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the public will enjoy free food samples and health information in the school’s lobby and parking lot.