What happened: Midland Friends of Libraries and Literacy Bookstore, a volunteer-run nonprofit that sells second-hand donated books, is hosting a Fourth of July celebration sale this month where their entire inventory is only $1 per book or item. The rummage-style store offers thousands of gently used books at low prices, with most titles ranging from $1 to $5.

Why it matters: Proceeds from the bookstore directly support the Midland County Public Libraries as well as many literacy programs and local organizations. The group also provides book scholarships to students at Midland College through volunteer hours.

The big picture: The Friends of Libraries bookstore is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The bookstore has over 6,000 square feet of secondhand books, with dozens of books in every genre you can think of, organized rummage-style.

While adults will enjoy making finds, kids might not have the patience to browse the whole store. The store has an excellent selection of children’s books for all ages, including everything from baby books to chapter books, and many good books for homeschooling or after-school work.

Midland’s top stories. One quick email. Free, every Friday.
Get Midland Wrapped, our free weekly email for busy Midland residents. Each Friday, we break down the week’s most important local stories — what happened, why it matters, and what to watch next — so you can stay informed without the noise.

The store also features a selection of audiobooks, DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, and records. Along with the opportunity to find gently used titles at reasonable prices, it’s also a great place to donate books or media you no longer need.

Memberships are just $5 and include $2 off purchases each month, plus entry to the once-a-year $1 full-store sale in the spring. The Friends also operate the popular Book Nook at the Centennial Library, where they sell gently used books year-round. The large semi-annual book sales in the summer and winter are major fundraisers that help sustain these efforts.

Go deeper: Midland Friends of the Libraries and Literacy was founded in 1972 to support the Midland Library through an annual book sale. The organization became formally active in 1991 when it opened a bookstore on West Michigan Avenue. The nonprofit is part of the larger ‘Friends of Libraries’ organization, which raises money for local and national literacy projects, library support, and educational initiatives.

Dedicated volunteers run the entire organization. The bookstore has made recent donations to the Midland Storytelling and Centennial Library’s summer reading program, as well as a couple of smaller donations.

Midland Friends of Libraries says it welcomes requests from groups that need books for their literacy projects, such as schools, churches, classrooms, community agencies, and social organizations. They have a special program for teachers who want to buy for their classrooms. Anyone interested in these options or college textbook scholarships should inquire at the bookstore.