The fact that the Friends of the Barrington Library are asking people NOT to donate any more books should give you some idea of the size of the annual book sale coming up this weekend, Nov. 2-4.

The annual book sale is always referred to as a "giant" book sale. This year that description may be more appropriate than ever.

"There will be thousands of gently used books -- some even new -- for all ages and both fiction and nonfiction, including out-of-print and collectibles," said Joyce Van Sluyter, who coordinates the sale for the Friends.

The sale begin with a Benefit Preview on Friday night, Nov. 2, when admission is $20 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Then from 7:30 to 9 p.m. admission is $10 or free to members of the Friends of the Library.

Admission is free on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then again on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

"As this is our major book sale of the year, we hope to attract as many people as possible," Van Sluyter said.

What about the prices? Most books are 50 cents to a dollar. Some special books will cost a bit more.

All the donations come from the very generous people of the commmunity,  said Sluyter, who gets plenty of help from about 10 other volunteers who sort and stack the books.

The Friends receive donations of books all year long, Van Sluyter said. It's rare if a day goes by that someone doesn't drop off a book or two.

The books are stored and sorted in a couple of closets and a room in the area used primarily by the TAP-IN social services organization in the lower level of the library next to the Senior Center. And it's really jammed this year.

Many of the books are sold in the library for a dollar or two throughout the year. The rest will be sold this weekend.

The book sales typically raise more than $6,000 a year for library programs and other expenses. That amount supplements the $1,000 a month income from the books sold daily in the library.

CDs and other audiovisual materials also will be sold at the book sale, Van Slutyer said. There is usually something for just about everyone.