BOOK SALE MANAGER – BRUCE TAYLOR
Our book sales are the main way we raise funds to support programs at the Napa County Library. It takes a lot of time, effort and mainly people to hold these sales. Check out our Volunteer Page to learn of ways you can contribute to our efforts.
Our Book Sale Manager, Bruce Taylor, whose contact information appears many places in our website, is an integral part of the success of the Book Sales. He keeps our operations running smoothly … at our large book sales, for our daily lobby sales, and with our special book online sales. He coordinates the talents of over 50 volunteers and never lets up, well, except for maybe football. To give you an idea why we are so fortunate to have his experience and expertise, here is his story:
Bruce graduated from SUNY Stony Brook just a few short decades ago. His serious book career began in 1975 when he founded The San Francisco Mystery Bookstore, which he owned and operated for 26 years. While the emphasis of the store was mystery and detective fiction, he says, “Just by accident one picks up knowledge of other fields along the way. The Internet explosion of the 1990s turned every lunatic in every small town in America into an ‘expert’.” Believing he was such an expert, in 2001 he sold the business and thought he had truly retired in style. So, what does one do when retiring at such a spry age? One goes to Tuscany for a year!
He began volunteering with the Friends of the Napa Library in 2007 and took over as book sale manager in 2008. His excellent sales, management, and organizational skills enabled FOL to grow book sales from about $60,000 in 2007 to over $100,000 in 2013. Average yearly sales since then are $80,000+. Going back to his comment about the Internet, Bruce says, “It sounded the death knell for independent bookstores nationally, but it can be a valuable tool if you know what you are doing … and if you are not a lunatic (note his interest in lunatics!).”
When asked what the favorite part of being FOL’s book sale manager, Bruce says, “Giving back a bit. Life has treated me (mostly) very gently and it is nice to be able to repay that debt in some small way. It also allows me to spend time around books, it keeps me busy, out of trouble (mostly), and allows me to live in the Napa Valley.”
In case you were wondering … Bruce’s favorite author is Raymond Chandler, favorite book is The Long Goodbye, and favorite singer is Jerry Vale. The next time you see Bruce or meet him for the first time ask him to hum a few bars from one of his favorite Italian singers of the ‘40s or ‘50s. He just might!
BOOK SALES
There are several ways to purchase our used books, CD’s, DVD’s and audio books
- The Friends of the Library hosts at least three (3) book sales in the Community Room of the Napa County Library. The sales are held approximately every 3 months and usually last 9 days. Our normal hours of operation are: the first Saturday (Members Day) from 10am – 5pm, Sunday 1pm – 4pm, Monday – Thursday 10am – 7pm, Friday, 10am – 4pm (Half Price Day), Saturday, 10am – 4pm (Bag Day #1) and Sunday 1pm – 4pm (Big Sale Day). Please verify our hours! Any changes to the schedule will be posted on our home page as well as our social media accounts.
- Lobby Sales: An ongoing book sale is in the lobby of the library – near the front entrance. Most items are $2.00 and represent a wide variety of current releases as well as unusual or popular editions. The sale operates on the honor system and payments are accepted in a lockbox located near the sale shelves. You may now also pay with Venmo or PayPal. See the QR codes posted in the lobby near the cash payment box.
- Special Books: When we receive book donations that are rare or highly prized, we list these for sale on E-bay. Click on the link in the lower right of any page to be taken to our E-bay listings. You can also locate us by searching for the Friends of the Napa Library on E-bay. A list of of these special books is also available for your review at the quarterly book sales.
- Vintage Frameables: Frequently a book of illustrations is donated but the condition of the binding or cover means we cannot sell it whole. When the illustrations are of an age and/or subject matter that have interest to be sold individually, we carefully pull the book apart and offer the illustrations for sale. They can be found in a portfolio at the sales near the check out station.