April 24, 2026
For nearly four decades, Vernon’s Friends of the Library have supported the community through their annual book sale. Now in its 37th year, it has grown into one of the largest sales in the Okanagan Valley, drawing readers, collectors, and curious browsers alike.
The books themselves come from public donations as well as materials withdrawn from Okanagan Regional Library (ORL) collections. Over time, these contributions are sorted and organized by a dedicated group of volunteers, creating a wide selection of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s titles. For many visitors, part of the appeal is simply the possibility of finding something unexpected.
Funds raised through the sale support ORL programs and services that fall outside regular budgets. These contributions have helped fund children and adult programming, speaker honorariums, and a range of additions to library spaces. Past purchases have included practical items such as shelving, cabinets, and window blinds, as well as touches that make spaces more welcoming, including plants, holiday decorations, and enhancements to children’s areas.
The group has also funded an Optelec machine for partially-sighted patrons and, in the past, a writer-in-residence program. Support extends beyond Vernon, with contributions to children’s programming in smaller regional libraries such as Falkland, Lumby, Cherryville, Silver Creek, Armstrong, and Enderby. In 2019, the Friends funded equipment for a Makerspace at the Vernon branch, expanding access to technologies like 3D printing, coding tools, robotics, and video recording. As one member put it, “the taxpayers fund the cake, but the Friends provide the icing.”
The sale has evolved alongside its success. The first event took place in 1989 at the Vernon Library’s former location on 32nd Avenue, the same year the organization became a registered non-profit. At that time, about a dozen volunteers managed the sale using improvised shelving. As the event grew, the group moved between temporary storage and sale locations before receiving support from Bob Davison of Davison Orchards, who provided a storage building and helped move materials. Continued growth eventually led the sale to the Vernon Curling Club, where there was more space for visitors, including those using strollers and mobility aids. In 2025, the sale moved to the Schubert Centre, where it continues today.
The organization is currently supported by 10 directors and nearly 70 volunteers, with teams meeting weekly from October through May to sort and prepare books. The 2026 sale will take place at the Schubert Centre, 3505 30th Avenue, from April 30 to May 2, with extended hours over three days. As always, books will be organized by genre and subject, with a special offer on select hardcover fiction, mystery, and science fiction titles for those buying in bulk.
Whether arriving with a list or simply browsing, the sale remains a steady and practical way to support local libraries while finding something new to read.
Archives Manager, Gwyneth Evans