The majority of the book sale will be held outside under tents, with some materials available indoors as well. In addition to Book Sale items, the Friends of the Youngsville Library will also have a craft table nearby filled with a variety of themed crafts – from fall decorations to Christmas ornaments and more.

There will be hot dogs and drinks available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. or sold out. For a $5 donation you will receive a hot dog, beverage, bag of chips, and a homemade dessert. There will also be homemade Texas hot sauce for hotdogs too, while supplies last. All proceeds from this annual fundraiser directly benefit the Youngsville Public Library. During the book “sale” the library is open to patrons who wish to use the public computers, free Wi-Fi, and/or check out materials to loan. Hope to see you there.

¯ Book Donations: Youngsville Library will be accepting donations of only fiction books, children’s books, and DVDs in preparation of their September 9th book sale. Donations will be accepted on the following dates/times when volunteers are available to assist staff: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday or 2 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Wednesday, Sept 6. Please ONLY CLEAN, “gently-used” donations of fiction items and DVDs (no dirty/musty/moldy, water-stained, or bug infested items or boxes). Please NO non-fiction items or medical/textbooks, no magazines, no crafting books, no VHS tapes, etc.

“There are specific times during the next two weeks when Youngsville Library will have volunteers available to help me sort and organize any incoming donations of clean, good quality fiction items,” stated Library Director Kristy Wallace.

Benecio practices his soccer skills by dribbling and weaving between cones during the final day of Youngsville Library’s “Fiction & Fitness” summer program. Fiction & Fitness was a partnership program between the Youngsville Library and Youngsville YMCA and provided themed stories, corresponding physical activities, free snacks, and take-home craft.

“This year we’re designating five specific days for accepting donations. When there is only one staff member working at the library (which is usually the case) there just isn’t time to accept donations because there isn’t any time to inspect them the moment they arrive. You’d be amazed and shocked at how many people try to leave boxes upon boxes of dirty, moldy, bug-infested, and water-stained books that are quite literally falling apart at the library’s doorstep. We just don’t have the man-power or the money to dispose of donations that are obviously a health hazard and are neither sanitary nor good quality. That is also why we ask people to not leave donations outside the library doors when we are closed. There is a risk of the books and DVDs getting ruined by the elements and we once again have to pay to dispose of them.

“I’d also like to address why we are only accepting fiction books, children’s fiction, and DVDs for our book sale donations and why our library is not accepting non-fiction items. First, I want to stress that Youngsville Library is obviously not anti-non-fiction books that would be silly — we are a library after all,” Wallace chuckled.

“YPL is very proud of our on-site, non-fiction collection and collection of vetted nonfiction e-data bases. The reality is that non-fiction books just are not popular material during our Book Sale. It’s sad to say but it is just a fact that each year we are left with tables upon tables of non-fiction items that no one is willing to even peruse let alone purchase. Then at the end of the Book Sale day, we find ourselves in the same situation every year: what do we do with these non-fiction items now and how are we going to pay for disposal of them. We try to give them to other organizations first but they don’t want non-fiction either. In the end, too many non-fiction items actually costs us money and defeats the purpose of the fundraiser to begin with. That being said, I want to emphasize that Youngsville Library truly is grateful to everyone who supports our Book Sale with good quality fiction material – we honestly couldn’t have this annual fundraiser without these donations. So, if you do have fictional books that you’d like to donate but can’t visit us on during the hours listed for August 28th, 29th, 30th, or September 1st or 5th then please hang onto them until after this year’s September 9th fundraiser, because we can always use fiction books for next year!”

¯ Music in the Park: Warren’s Music in the Park at Soldiers & Sailors is free to the public on Friday from 7 to 8 p.m.. Band playing: “Jays”, oldies music.

¯ Gift Shop Grand Opening: On Saturday, Sept. 2nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Schooner Gift Shop in Warren is having its Grand Opening (1408 PA Avenue West). Starting at noon there will be hotdogs and other prizes for customer appreciation, as well as a 50/50 and basket drawing. Call 814-779-4730 with questions.

¯ ANF Exhibition Game: On Wednesday, August 30th from 6 to 8 p.m. the Allegheny National Forest Staff has volunteered to play in an exhibition game to commemorate ANF’s Centennial. The game will take place at the Russell E. Diethrick, Jr. Baseball Park in Jamestown (485 Falconer St., Jamestown 14701) against “The Area Old Timers’, “ The game is being billed as “Smokey Goes to the Ballpark!”

Admission is free for this family-friendly event. The first 100 people through the gate will receive a commemorative tote bag. Smoke Bear will be at the game to remind everyone, “Only you can prevent wildfires!” For more information about Allegheny National Forest’s Centennial, the weekend of celebratory events scheduled for Sept. 22 to 24, 2023, and related upcoming events and activities, please visit ANF Centennial.