koconnor@wiltonvillager.com

WILTON — Starting this Saturday, the Wilton Library is hosting the biggest annual book sale it has ever had, according to Pat Gould, one of the chairs of the event.

"I know that people enjoy our book sale every year — I have been told it is one of the best by many people," said Gould. "And we are going to have close to 70,000 books this year, the most we have ever had."

"People have been bringing in books to the library," said MacEwan. "We also cover about 10 locations in Wilton, collecting books and letting people know about the book sale."

According to Gould and Griswold, on of the event's other chairs, approximately 20 volunteers helped with the book sale.

"Volunteers put books into different categories — around 50 different ones — marked books and sorted the carts," said Griswold. "It helped out a lot."

Area residents donated tons of books, audiobooks, CDs, DVDs, and videos for the sale, she said.

"People cleaned out their bookshelves and were just wonderful with donating anything they had," said Griswold. "The book sale gets more books every year and I think that makes it easier for people to donate them."

The book sale will also include a live auction of 60 rare books on Saturday, which is a new feature this year.

"We will have first edition books, signed books, collectibles and other kinds," said Bob Russell, a book sale volunteer who will also be running the auction. "Every collector has (their) specialty."

According to Russell, the live auction should take an hour to an hour and a half.

"The auction will last as long as it takes to sell 60 books," said Russell. "This is the first time we are doing this live auction, so we will have to see how it does."

There will also be a silent auction, consisting of approximately 200 books. The silent auction, which the event has featured in past years, will last two days, and whatever is left over will be saved for next year's sale, says Russell.

The book sale will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, for early buyers with an admission fee of $15.

"Hundreds of buyers and dealers come in and stand in line for the 7 a.m. early buyer time," said Griswold. "It's very exciting and official — everyone gets a number and a stamp. We really like to be here for that."

The sale opens to the general public with free admission at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, and continues on Sunday, April 27 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

On Monday, April 28 the sale will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with items marked at half price. On the final day of the sale, Tuesday, April 29, items will be free with donations accepted. Tuesday's sale hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be food and beverages for sale throughout the duration of the book sale.

"This is a wonderful and fun event," said Griswold. "Not only for our community, but also the towns and communities around us. We would like as many people to come to this event as possible."