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Independence DAy Book Sale
Members-Only Presale 3-5 pm July 3
The traditional Fourth of July Friends' used book sale will, once again, kick off with a Members-Only presale from 3-5 pm inside the Wisner Center on July 3. All categories of books will be included in the presale. Remember to bring your membership card with you to expedite entry. If your membership has expired, you will be able to renew at the door.
Public Sale 8 am - 3 pm July 4
Then, the "main event" will start a half hour earlier than last year at 8:00 am on July 4 and run until 3 pm both inside and outside the Wisner Center. We will have more books outside than last year (weather permitting). So, stop by before or after the parade and take a look at more than 20,000 books in all categories, as well as magazines, DVDs and CDs.
Join the Friends Book Discussions
3rd Wednesday of the Month; September - May
Book discussions are held at 10:00 am in the Wisner Center at the Cascade Library. They have been held on the third Monday of the month in the past but will be moving to Wednesday as of September. If you would like to join the book discussions, you can simply show up at the next scheduled discussion. No registration is required.
We encourage attendees to read ahead of the schedule if possible since some titles may be in short supply near the discussion date. Here's what's on tap for the upcoming season:
September 18 The Covenant of Water (Abraham Verghese)
The Covenant of Water is an expansive, multi-generational tale of an Indian family whose members all suffer from what is termed the “Condition.”
October 23 Table for Two (Amor Towles)
The author shares some of his shorter six stories set in New York City and a novella in Los Angeles. The New York stories, most of which are set around the turn of the millennium, take up everything from the death-defying acrobatics of the male ego, to the fateful consequences of brief encounters, and the delicate mechanics of compromise which operate at the heart of modern marriages.
November 20 The Frozen River (Ariel Lawhorn)
A gripping historical mystery inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who defied the legal system and wrote herself into American history.
December 18 The Personal Librarian (Marie Benedict)
This is an exciting historical fiction novel that dives into the extraordinary life of Belle da Costa Greene, the personal librarian to J.P. Morgan, during the early twentieth century.
January 15 The Women (Kristin Hannah)
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. In 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself.
February 19 The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (James McBride)
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (2023) is the richly-textured story of a small, diverse community centered around the Jewish-owned Heaven and Earth Grocery store in Pottstown Pennsylvania in the 1920s and 1930s, and of the big events – love, death, murder, kidnapping – that mark the lives of the people connected to it.
March 19 The Paris Library (Janet Skelslien Charles)
Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together.
April 16 The River We Remember (William Kent Krueger)
On Memorial Day in Jewel, Minnesota, the body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. The investigation falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service.
May 21 Warrior Girl Unearthed (Angeline Boulley)
This is a young adult mystery about an Anishinaabe teen who tries to find a way to bring a stolen ancestor back to her tribe. The book begins ten years after Firekeeper's Daughter with Daunis's niece, Perry.
How to become a friends member
Benefits of Membership
When you become a Friend, you help support an important part of the social fabric of your community. Plus, you earn "Early Bird" privileges at most book sales, which means you gain entry to the sales in advance of non-members to have first shot at the books of greatest interest to you. And, we will notify you of any scheduled book sales or special events. So, you'll never miss out on an opportunity.
Types of Membership & Fees
We have kept the cost of membership low to encourage neighbors to support the worthwhile cause of the Friends. All costs shown below are annual, with the exception of the Life Membership, which is a one-time charge.
Type of Membership Cost Explanation
Student $5 Anyone currently enrolled at any level
Senior $5 Anyone 55 years of age or older
Individual Adult $10 Anyone 18 years of age or older not in school
Family $15 Includes all members of a family
Contributing $25 A way to offer more financial support
Life $100 A one-time payment for a single adult or couple
How to Become a Member or Renew
It's easy to become a member. There should be some membership application forms next to this computer. If not, you can get one at the front desk. Just complete it and turn it in to the librarian at the front desk with your payment. You will receive a confirmation communication within a couple of weeks, along with your membership card.
You can also become a member online by navigating to our "Shop" page, finding the membership of your choice, and following the instructions. Once you become a member, we will remind you each year when it's time to renew.
How to Donate Your Used Books
It's Easy to Donate
Most of us read a book and then put it on a shelf or in a box to take up space. Well, instead, we hope you will consider donating your books, DVDs and CDs to the Friends to help us raise money for the library. We'll help your books find a good home and, at the same time, help make our community library an even better facility. To donate books, please drop them in one of the large green bins next to the Wisner Center by the library. If you have an estate collection of potentially valuable books or just a large collection and need help getting them to the library, check out our free "Book-It" pick-up service below.
'Book-It' Pick-Up Service
Why Use Book-It?
Many people just don’t have the time, energy or physical capabilities to get large quantities of books from their homes or businesses to us without some help. So, If you're considering donating your own book collection or one left behind in an estate, but either have other priorities or don’t know where to turn to get the ball rolling, “Book-It” can help. We'll send a team of volunteers to box, load and deliver your books to the library free of charge.
What's the Process?
- Contact us to determine if your collection is eligible for pick-up services and, if so, when is best for you. We will need to know (a) where the books are located, (b) the approximate number of books, (c) the predominant types or categories (fiction, non-fiction, textbook, etc.), and (d) the general condition of the books.
- If our representative thinks a preliminary visit is a good idea to determine the number of volunteers and cars that will be needed, he or she will schedule an Evaluation Visit with you.
- Once we determine what's needed, we will schedule a Pick-Up Visit. Generally, we can get everything in a single trip. But, a very large collection might require multiple visits. We always do our best to not disrupt other activities in your home.
- If you would like a receipt for your donation for your records or tax purposes, please request one.
How to Get Started
It's easy to get things started. Just provide the information requested below and hit the "send" button. We'll do our best to get back to you in two business days. Or, if you prefer, you can simply send an email to cascadefriends1@gmail.com (please put "Book-It Service" in the subject line).
volunteer to make a difference
The Friends team only exists because of dedicated volunteers from the community to help sort donated books, handle used book sales and get involved with numerous other activities that help raise money to finance projects that improve the local library.
If you think you might have interest in contributing a little time and your skills to the Friends, start by looking through the FAQs listed below and then contact us if you have more questions or would like to get started.
FAQs (Frequently-Asked-Questions)
Q. Do you have to be a member of Friends to volunteer?
A. No. They are entirely separate. Some people prefer to support us with membership fees, some prefer to volunteer time, and some like to do both. It's up to you.
Q. How much time is expected from me if I volunteer?
A. We set the threshold low and then leave it up to you to determine if you want to do more. We like volunteers to commit a couple of hours per week. Of course, it's very flexible based on what other commitments (vacations, etc.) are going on in your life.
Q. Is volunteering just for retirees?
A. No. But, the fact is that most of our volunteers are retired because they're the ones with the time to commit. But, if you're still working inside or outside the home and would like to get involved, we would love to have you.
Q. What types of activities can I volunteer for and whom should I contact?
A. Here is a list of most of the volunteer activities. A list of Board members is provided below:
Book Sorting: Sort donated books by category and quality to determine if they are sold in the bookstore, at books sales or online. We provide new sorting volunteers several training sessions so they can learn how donations are processed.
Book Sales Events: Help set-up, clean-up, cashier or perform other functions to help make sales events successful.
Landscaping & Gardening: With the opening of "Friendship Park" in June 2024 on the grounds of the library, volunteers will be needed to assist the township in maintaining the gardens and other aspects off the park.
Marketing & Membership: Help publicize and support communications efforts to let various audiences know what the Friends are doing?
Q. Are you looking for certain skills or experience in volunteers?
A. Generally, no special skills or experience is required. Training is provided. However, we are always looking for volunteers with marketing and/or communication skills.