COOS BAY — Used book sales are thriving at the Coos Bay library. Conducted by the Friends of the Coos Bay Public Library, the occasional events routinely attract between 200 and 300 people. And while volunteers once worried about not having enough books to sell, today’s collection is overflowing.

Now the problem is getting the books off the shelves.

The Friends will unveil their solution Thursday, opening a used book store in a room that once functioned as storage space.

Marie Benton, president of the nonprofit group, said the store will feature the group’s best books.

“This is the cream of the crop,” she said, standing in the store, just to the left of the main entrance to the library.

She estimates the group gets between 100 and 200 donated books every day the library is open.

It is the final component of renovations to the library that improved the circulation desk area and reconfigured the popular material spaces. It also provided the Friends with some additional storage space, allowing the group to renovate its old room into a book store.

She said the revenues will help pay for programs offered by the library, such as author’s nights and film viewings.

“The programs don’t have any money,” she said.

Librarian Carol Ventgen said the library does not budget any money to pay for special programs for adults and children during the summer.

“We really do count on the Friends to bring in the presenters and allow us to do crafts programs and provide goodies,” she said.

The group still will hold its book sales, about nine times a year, simply because of the number of books it receives.

Some people donate books when they leave the area or if a relative dies. Others simply return the books they purchased at the last sale.

“Everything that goes through here and doesn’t get sold will end up in the book sale,” Benton said.

The book store initially will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and noon to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, staffed by Friends of the Library volunteers. The goal is to increase the book store hours to be the same as the 48 hours the library is open each week, Benton said.

(Staff Writer Alexander Rich covers Coos Bay issues for The World. He can be reached by calling 269-1222, ext. 234; or by e-mailing to arich@theworldlink.com.)