The Friends of the Library book sale is expected to kick off this weekend with the largest stock the sale has had in its 57-year history.
Billie Staff, co-chair of the sale, said there will be about 25 percent more items at this sale than at last fall's sale. She estimated there would be more than 300,000 items, including books, magazines and vinyl records.
Beverly Bartlett, treasurer of Friends of the Library, said the extra donations may help the nonprofit organization raise more money than usual for the Alachua County library system.
"It comes at a good time," she said. "The more we can do to help, the better."
She said the extra donations will be especially helpful in a time when state funding is a constant uncertainty due to potential budget cuts.
The Friends of the Library has pledged $170,000 from this sale to the county library system, Bartlett said. The nonprofit also helps the library system by funding scholarships and small projects.
The nonprofit raised about $147,000 at the spring sale, not counting the $25,000 it costs to put on the sale each fall and spring semester, she said.
The sale will start Saturday and continue until Oct. 26.
