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Net Sale Proceeds Benefit Palo Alto Libraries

Every month on the second Saturday and Sunday, Friends of the Palo Alto Library holds a huge sale of more than 50,000 gently used and sometimes new books, CDs, DVDs, VHS, LPs, as well as puzzles, games, and software. 95% of items for sale are donated by individuals, estates, and companies in the community; a few are former library books. Everything is sorted and displayed by genre and subject for easy browsing. You’ll find our prices incredibly reasonable!

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To learn about special items featured in the upcoming sale, sign up to receive our Book Sale e-Newsletter.

FOPAL Sale Locations and Featured Items

FOPAL’s sale is located in 3 ROOMS at Cubberley Community Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303. Directions.

• Main Sale Room – features our best quality books in all genres, plus DVDs, CDs, software, games, and puzzles
• Children’s Book Room – an entire room devoted to books, CDs and DVDs for preschool through early teens, books for parents and teachers, games, puzzles, and toys
• Bargain Room – offers very inexpensive paperbacks and hardcovers in all genres, plus DVDs, VHS, records, CDs, audiobooks, bargain children’s books, ex-library books. On Sundays all items are 50% off or $5/bag.

Entry Procedures – Saturday Only

Get In Line By 11am – Get in line early for 11 am entry to Main Room. There are no tickets at this time.

Twelve Book Limit – Due to health and safety regulations, no more than 80 customers at a time can be allowed into the Main Room. During the first hour or until the Sales Manager lifts the restriction, each customer may select no more than 12 books at a time, pay for the items in the cashier line, and exit through the east door. The customer may then join the end of any remaining line at the north/entry door and reenter in that order. The limitation of 12 books at a time will continue past noon if a line remains outside.

One Bag Limit – There is also a limit of one grocery-sized or one green FOPAL reusable bag per customer for carrying your book selections. We do not allow use of large “Costco” or “Ikea” sized bags, or boxes any kind, until any shopping limits are lifted.

Note that both the Bargain Room and Children’s Room are open earlier than the Main Sale room on Saturday. No entry tickets are required.

To avoid lines and crowds, we suggest browsing after noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Give a FOPAL Gift Certificate

Customers can purchase gift certificates on the day of the sale from any cashier in any room. The certificates can be purchased in $5 denominations and can be used at any FOPAL sale or FOPAL branch-library bookstore.

Donations on Sale Days

Due to our space limitations, we cannot accept donations during our monthly sales, nor in the week before the monthly sale. Please bring all donations to FOPAL’s Main Book Sale Room, 4000 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, Monday – Saturday from 3-5pm (most weeks but not the one before the second Saturday of the month).

Members’ Early Sales

Twice a year, we hold a Members’ Early sale, at which only current members of the Friends of the Palo Alto Library are admitted early to the Main Room sale. Click here for more information.

Free Book Giveaways

After each monthly sale, FOPAL gives away free books from the Bargain Room (H2/H3 in Cubberley Community Center). On Sunday between 4pm-6pm, teachers and nonprofits are invited to select books. On Monday evenings anyone may come and take books. Be sure to bring your own bags and boxes. Click here for more information.