History
The Media-Upper Providence Free Library Book Sale has a long and interesting past. The first sale was held in 1970 by the Media-Upper Providence Library Auxiliary, formed in 1969 as a volunteer fundraising organization. Today, the book sale continues to be run entirely by volunteers. Although the current sale is held in the library, throughout the years the book sale has been in numerous places around Media including the parking lot, out on State Street, at the Franklin Mint Credit Union, the Borough (stone) Cottage, and the Community Center.
1969
The Media-Upper Providence Library Auxiliary is formed
The Media-Upper Providence Free Library “Annual” Book Sale was started in 1970 by the Media-Upper Providence Library Auxiliary formed in 1969 as a volunteer fundraising organization.
1970
The First Annual Book Sale is held
In the 1969 minutes of this newly formed Library Auxiliary, was a robust plan of multiple fundraising events that included a Bake Sale, which was a previous activity they continued. In 1970, the Auxiliary added a Book Sale with a combined event on Saturday May 9, 1970.
1971
The Second Annual Book and Bake Sale is held
The Second Annual Book and Bake Sale was held on May 8, 1971.
1989
The “Sixth Annual” Book Sale is held
However, stating in 1989 that it was the Sixth Annual Book Sale is incorrect, or a very narrow determination of what was at that time an “Annual” Book Sale. From 1970 onwards there has been an annual book sale every year in one form or another. The Media Upper Providence Auxiliary ran an annual Book Sale along with their annual Bake Sale. The Auxiliary also ran Book Sales along with music presentations and other large fundraisers they conducted. Since 1970 there has been a line item for “Book Sales” in the Financial Statements.
1989
At some point the Auxiliary morphed into the Friends of the Library, however, there was a group of volunteers that no longer wanted to be part of a larger fundraising group and insisted on becoming the “Book Sale Committee” as referenced in the news clipping above
After the 1989 Book Sale, referencing the year of the “Annual Book Sale” ceased. Rumor has it (not verifiable), that there was disagreement on regarding 1983 as the first. It may have been the first Book Sale run by the Book Sale Committee, but previous Book Sale “Annual” volunteers from 1970 to 1983 should be acknowledged for their Book Sale decade-plus achievements.
The BOOK SALE has traveled all around Media, in the library, out of the library, in the parking lot, out on State Street, at the Franklin Mint Credit Union, the Borough Cottage and Community Center.
Note: the notations in pen on news clippings were there when found. Dates were confirmed by minutes, calendars, and context within documents discovered.