Used books constantly pour in to the Friends of the Library, which then holds used book sales to raise money for library projects and programs.

But there’s currently not enough space to store all the donated books, nor adequate work space for volunteers to sort and organize the thousands of books that flow through their hands each year. 

County commissioners agreed last week to fund a 500-square-foot addition for $100,000.

The Friends of the Cashiers Library raises around $15,000 a year through its used book sales. There’s one giant multi-day book sale a year, plus volunteers run an on-site used book store that keeps the same hours as the library.

Andrea Hannon with Friends of the Cashiers Library considers the used book store a community service as well as vital revenue source, and particularly enjoys sending kids home with super cheap books of their own to foster a love for reading.

County Manager Chuck Wooten said perhaps bigger and better space to accommodate the used books coming in will allow them to raise even more money to benefit the library.

“They are very instrumental in the programs of that library,” Wooten said.

Friends of the Library recently funded new sound and video technology for the public meeting room at the library. It also supports community programs, book purchases and other library needs.