DeKALB | The library’s book sale offers bargain prices for a cause.

The book sale, which started in 2001, offers a variety of used books, each for $5 or less. Books are donated by DeKalb residents and NIU’s faculty and staff. The sale is located in the main lobby of Founders Memorial Library, near the information desk.

“We are selling books for low prices to the students,” said Eric Gilbert, a junior communication major and library desk attendant.

The types of books vary from textbooks to novels.

Students interested in purchasing books only need to bring them to the circulation desk, where a small donation box is located. “Students can just drop off the money at the circulation desk,” Gilbert said.

Originally, the book sale was an annual event. Now, the books are on sale year-round.

The book’s value is determined by its age, size and quality.

“I pick a price from 25 cents to $5, based on the book,” said Joan Metzger, assistant university archivist. The library offers the books at low prices to aid students, Metzger said.

“If I priced them too high, no one would buy them,” Metzger said. “Students usually don’t have a lot of money.”

The books that are not sold after a few months are repriced or thrown away.

“If no one is buying some of the books, we look to see why and make changes,” Metzger said.

The money earned from the book sale goes toward Friends of NIU Libraries, an organization that helps the library make purchases NIU could not afford otherwise.

“We don’t make a profit from the books. It’s used to help the library,” she said.

This year’s proceeds were used to furnish the newly renovated “Scholars’ Den” on the first floor, said Lynne Thomas, head of rare books and special collections.

The earnings helped the library expand its collection by purchasing several books for the reference collection, Thomas said.

Metzger agreed that the book sale helps the library.

“We are raising money for a good cause,” she said.