Folks:

It has been a while, hasn’t it? Long time no write.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could wake up in the morning when the day is new and find that this ordeal is behind us? Then we wouldn’t have to wait so long to get back to civic life and city living. Scratch that, let’s say bucolic, pastoral, and perhaps even countrified living.

Right?

Until then, good news abounds, and we continue to make progress. Read on.

To start off and against the odds, the Friends of the Thayer Memorial Library, with the approval of the Board of Health, is having its Annual Book Sale on schedule starting this Friday for members.

You can find some details here.

If you are not a member of the Friends, this may be an excellent time to consider joining. The Friends sponsored many of the innovative services we continued to provide when the Library was shuttered, including the Books By Mail program – the first Library in the Commonwealth to do this – as well as supporting the purchase of more eBooks and audiobooks.

Oh, and by the way, only members are permitted into the sale on Friday, meaning they get the first crack at purchasing the first-rate stuff. I’m always amazed by how many books we wind up collecting each year for the book sale. Let me tell you this year is no exception – Town Hall is packed to the gills. Yes, a strange idiom for a book sale, but there it is.

If you don’t want to purchase a membership online, you can do so at the doors on Friday.

Hardcover books are only $2, trade softcover $1, and standard paperbacks $0.50. Fill-A-Bag throughout the event Oct 2-4th for $25, Oct 5-9th for $15, and Columbus Day weekend Oct 10-12th for $10/bag. Friends Members receive $5 off per bag, so for goodness sake, become a member. Yes, credit cards are again accepted this year.

Next, I can submit that we are imminently close to announcing the big day. The BIG day is nearly upon us.

The Library will start welcoming you all back into the building to browse the collection very soon. Big news, indeed.

My official announcement with all of the particulars will come early next week.^, It’s quite possible, the Library could open its doors as soon as Wednesday the 14^th. Cross your finger that you generally lick before you turn a page.

Let’s get ready to read, watch, and listen to books, movies, and music.

Have some fun at the Friends sale and pick yourself up some books on the cheap.

Later ‘gator

~ joe​