1. Book Sales
  2. Book Sales & Book Donations

We Sell Used Books to Buy New Books!

Through our book sales and our Amazon Page, The Friends of The Marina Library raised over $74,000 for the Marina Library in the last year. 

These funds are used to host free concerts and free movies at the library and to support an extensive array of children's program including the teen photography camp, our monthly Block Parties, the summer reading program. We purchase of new books, eBooks and other supplies for the library itself. 

The books we buy for the Marina Library travel throughout the Monterey County Free Library system, thus supporting all of Monterey County.

Big Annual Book Sale

Gigantic Annual Book Sale Tuesday, September 10, 2019 to Sunday, September 15, 2019

Over 15,000 books plus CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes for the community to pick through! Lots of treasures that we have collected all year long.

This sale is a success because of our many volunteers, who sort books, display them at the sale, help shoppers find the books they want, and help pack up the left-over books at the end (taking all the free books they want!)

Bi-Monthly Book Sales

We hold bi-monthly book sales in our library lobby. The merchandise changes with each sale. We always have Books, DVSs, CDs, talking books. Sales are held on the second Saturday and Sunday of February, April, June, October, and December

2019
December 14 10 am - 5 pm, Free Concert: Marina High School Christmas Carol Sing-along
December 15 11 am - 3 pm

2020
February 8 10 am - 5 pm
February 9 11 am - 3 pm
April 11 10 am - 5 pm
April 12 11 am - 3 pm
June 13 10 am - 5 pm
June 14 11 am - 3 pm

Image: A group photo at the Friends book sale
Image: People browsing at the Friends book sale

Book Donations

We are temporarily unable to accept book donations at this time.

To make your tax-deductible donation of gently used, clean books, CDs, or DVDs to The Friends of the Marina Library, you can drop off one or two bags or boxes at the library during library hours or visit our NEW BOOKSTORE! The Friends' Community Bookstore is located at 330 Reservation Road Suite F (Marina Town Plaza) in Marina Ca. The store is open Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Drop off donations and shop!

To donate a larger number of books, contact Gail at gyoungb292@aol.com or call / text 831-277-6477. All large donations are by appointment.

We welcome your donation of used textbooks. We welcome books which you think will interest nobody. People walk into our book sales and are delighted to find obscure books. So, don't assume we can't find homes for your books, no matter what the topic!

HOWEVER - THIS IS IMPORTANT: Because we sell your old books in our book sales or donate them to schools, the books need to be in decent shape.

Please do not give us moldy books, smoky books, books with water damage, or ancient, grimy books. We will have to throw those out, unfortunately, so you may as well do that yourself. Just let them go, even though it is difficult to say good-bye!

Books published before 1970 need to be in very good condition.

If you are unsure about your books, just call us. We can figure it out on the phone with you. Call 831-682-8016. Leave a message, and we will call you back.

Image: Shelves of books at the community bookstore
Image: Shelves of books at the community bookstore

Amazon Store

Some books donated to The Friends of the Marina Library are worth more than our typical price at our library sales or at Friends' Community Book Store. We sell those donated books on Amazon.com.

The Friends of the Marina Library has raised over $59,000 by selling books on Amazon. We have shipped books to all 50 states, two territories, Puerto Rico, and 26 countries!

Amazon sales help to pay our rent on our bookstore, Friends' Community Bookstore, 330 Reservation Road, because we cannot have the store open to the public yet.

Local shoppers can save the Amazon shipping by picking up their Amazon purchases here in Marina by emailing Joanne Bowman at books.foml@gmail.com

While Friends' Community Bookstore cannot be open full time during the pandemic, our bookstore volunteers do offer a Personal Shopper service with online payment and curbside delivery.

You'll be happy with our low prices on gently used books, DVDs, and CDs, and you can save over 50% off those low prices when you let us fill a Mystery Bag with books to fit your reading interests.

Check out our photo albums on our Friends' Community Bookstore Facebook page to see what's on our shelves, or let us know which books you are searching for.

To use our service, email your request to friendscommunitybookstore@gmail.com.

Our bookstore remains closed, but you can still make purchases, and your purchases support the library and community!

Please note that we are still NOT able to accept any donations at either the bookstore or the library. If you need to donate your books right now, please take them two blocks away to Goodwill or give to your neighbors or donate to the little free libraries in town.

We have over 1,000 books listed on our Amazon page, from text books to obscure and rare books. Visit Our Store.

If you see a book you like and you are a current member of The Friends of the Marina Library, you can buy it from our Amazon store by picking it up in Marina. You receive 20% off the Amazon listing price and you save the shipping. If you have questions about this, call Joanne at 831-277-0507.

Image: Sorting books for the Friends book sale
Image: Sorting books for the Friends book sale