Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

Over 300,000 used books and other media will be available for sale at Bookstock, one of metro Detroit’s largest annual used book and media sales. Bookstock is being held at Laurel Park Place Mall in Livonia. The sale began Sunday, April 7 and will run through Sunday, April 14. Bookstock is a project of the Detroit Jewish Community Relations Council.

Roz Blanck is part of Bookstock’s Leadership Team. She says the goal of the annual event is to sell books and make people happy. When people donate materials to the organization, they receive a receipt for tax purposes. “We write them a tax receipt so they’re happy to get rid of their books for a good cause,” says Blanck. When the sale opens, buyers are happy because they’re getting quality books and media materials at affordable prices. “All the proceeds go to non-profits for education and literacy, so that’s a feel-good, too,” says Blanck. “It’s really a win-win-win situation.”

Available for sale are gently-used books, computer games, magazines, DVDs, CDs, audio books and vinyl records. Selection includes current fiction, mystery, biographies, cookbooks and children’s books, and more. Prices range from 50 cents to $4. On Friday, April 12, shoppers who spend $25 or more will be entered in a special sports drawing. April 14 will be closing day and all materials will be sold at half price.

Blanck says it takes 700 volunteers thousands of hours to sort the roughly 300,000 donated books and materials. “Nobody is paid, we’re all volunteers and it’s a labor of love,” she adds.

Established in 2002, Bookstock is one of the largest non-profit organizations in metro Detroit which puts emphasis on education and literacy. Proceeds from the book sale benefit schools, libraries, and community organizations to promote education and the joy of reading. Past beneficiaries of Bookstock include Detroit’s Earhart Elementary and Renaissance High, and Starfish Family Services. The organization has also established an Annual Scholars Fund to assist students enrolled in the WSU School of Library and Information Science.

Blanck encourages everyone to come out and shop. Hours for the sale will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Saturday. Sale hours Sunday will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Laurel Park Place Mall is located at Six Mile and Newburgh Roads, east of I-275. For more details go to http://www.bookstockmi.org or see the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BookstockMI/.