While contestants on Wheel of Fortune pay thousands of dollars for a single letter, UCSB students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to pay only a few dollars for pages of words at the Davidson Library book sale.

The library will hold its last book sale of the year today from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m in the 24-hour study room – located on the library’s first floor left of the entrance. Hosted by the Friends of the UCSB Library for the past 20 years, the sale occurs six times a year, with the annual May sale typically grossing the highest income for the library.

“There has always been this desire to share books and let other people read them when you’re done with them,” Kimberly A. Thompson, director of library development, said. “It’s a good way for people to recycle their books and other library materials.”

Thompson said each sale earns about $1,500 for the library. By the end of the year, however, the total amount of money collected ranges from $7,000 to $15,000, said library development assistant Michelle H. Martinez. Despite the hefty amount of cash, Martinez said the items on sale today would be extremely cheap.

“Nothing will be higher than $1,” she said.

Thompson said the sale includes books donated to the library that were already in the collection, or were not necessary for the academic research collection.

“The money comes back to the library to be used for enhancing our collections,” Thompson said.

The items available for purchase include books, art catalogs and records, Martinez said.

Friends of the UCSB Library, a local nonprofit organization that sponsors the sales, was established in 1963 to help support the UCSB library, especially the facility’s Special Collections – an assortment of unique and rare literary works and art pieces, as well as antique photographs, manuscripts, recordings and maps. The organization also raises funds from private donors.

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