Every October, the Friends of London Public Library conduct the giant book sale at the Western Fair Special Events Building. This is the sale of the year for many people in London and beyond.
- Friday, Oct. 22, 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 23, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sunday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Special Events Building, Western Fairgrounds
A combination of surplus materials from the London Public Library and donations from the public means the Friends have lots of books, videos, CDs, cassettes, books on tape and magazines at bargain prices.
- Hardcover and oversize paperback – $2 each or six for $10
- Paperbacks – $1 each or six for $5
- Children’s materials – $0.50 each
- VHS, CD, books on tape – $1 each
- Magazines – $0.25 each
- Special books, sets – individually priced
- Sunday only – Fill a standard sized grocery bag for $3 – they’ll supply the bag too!
If you have materials to donate, please take them to your local branch library and indicate that they are for the Friends’ book sale or, if you have several boxes, contact the Friends using their voice mail at 519-661-2448 or by email at friends@lpl.london.on.ca to arrange for pickup. Please review the materials donation guidelines if you are interested in the kinds of materials they’re looking for.
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London Writers Society 
This is the event of the year for readers. For some years I helped sort magazines for this event. It was an eye opener. I had no idea there were so many niche publications.
Also found many gems in the books donated. The only down side is that the original authors do not receive any royalties for the books sold.
For the last few years, I’ve taken my daughter, Isabelle, to the final afternoon. It’s frenzy. You can fill a bag of books for practically nothing. It’s a great way to share the greedy thrill of acquiring books.
I have found many gems at this event in the past. Prices can’t be beat!
James, your note sparked a question I hope is fun for some other writers too.
What’s the most memorable book you’ve ever found at a book sale — either a library sale or a yard sale?
For me it was a copy of Germany’s Youth, an English-language booklet, published just before WWII. In black-and-white words and photos, it extolled the Boy Scout-like virtues of the Hitler Youth. I was terrified and fascinated to hold in my hands such an evil document. I found it on the last day of a Harvard University library sale, when everything was picked-over and cheap.
What’s your most memorable book sale moment?
Cannot agree with you more! It’s been several years since I went to the grand book sale the London Library puts on. I came away with a stack of fiction, non-fiction to serve as refences, and even a classic cook book on Canadian rustic receipes.
Richard, my most memorable find would be a copy of James Hilton’s Lost Horizon, one of my favourite novels, aboiut three years ago at the London Library sale. I also got a wonderful copy of Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities at a sale several years ago. Both at bargain prices. Since both authors are dead I didn’t feel I was denying them of royalties!