Book shelves in the Book Sale room in Robbins Library.

The Friends of the Robbins Library hold periodic book sales throughout the year, including a large book sale on Town Day (September). We also maintain an ongoing book sale in the Book Sale Room on the fourth floor of Robbins Library. This selection is updated frequently, and all items are just $2.00.

Proceeds from our book sales support the family museum pass program and help fund supplemental materials and equipment for both the Robbins and Fox libraries.

Donate Books and Other Materials

Our book sales depend on donations from the community. We gratefully accept the following gently used items:

  • Hardcover and paperback books 
  • Books on CD
  • Music CDs
  • DVDs

Donations for the book sale room may be placed in the large white bin on the fourth-floor, at the entrance of the book sale room. For periodic sales, such as the Town Day sale, a large blue donation bin is placed in the Robbins Library lobby.

To help us manage limited storage space, please limit donations to one bag or box per visit.

Unfortunately, we CANNOT accept:

  • Textbooks or encyclopedias
  • Computer/technology books more than 5 years old
  • Health books more than 10 years
  • Magazines/journals
  • Audio cassettes
  • VHS tapes
  • Books in foreign languages (dictionaries & language instruction are accepted)
  • Travel guidebooks more than 5 years old
  • Books with text that is underlined/annotated
  • Books without covers or in damaged condition

Thank you for supporting the Friends of the Robbins Library and helping us keep our book sales going!

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Book Sale Room open?

The book sale room is open during normal library hours. You are welcome to browse, purchase, or donate books whenever the library is open.

How can I pay for my purchase?

Book Sale Room: We currently accept cash or check for payments in the 4th floor book sale room. Your payment can be deposited in the white box next to the elevator in the book sale room, or you can pay at the circulation desk.

Book Sale Events: During our book sale events, we accept cash, check, or card payments.

What happens to the books you don’t sell?

We are grateful for all the donations made to our book sales, but because we have limited storage space, we can’t keep books indefinitely. If we are unable to sell a book within a reasonable time, it is donated to other local nonprofits that can store the book for a longer period. Our primary partner is More than Words, a Massachusetts nonprofit that provides real-world job-training and support to young adults ages 16–24 experiencing homelessness, foster care, or court involvement. During our annual Town Day Book Sale, we also donate books to the Prison Book Program, a nonprofit that supports prison libraries throughout the United States.

Can I volunteer with the book sale?

Our book sale room is maintained by a small team of Friends volunteers who sort, organize, and shelve donated materials. Currently all volunteer positions are filled for the book sale room; however, we do recruit volunteers for our periodic book sale events. We typically send out a call for volunteers through the library newsletter and our own newsletter. If you are interested in being added to our mailing list or would like further information, please contact us at info@friendsofrobbinslibrary.org