Book sale benefits Mon. County school libraries

Students who want to stock up on inexpensive books can now help support local schools at the same time, thanks to The Old Stone House Gift Shop.

The shop is offering shoppers $3 bags of books, with all proceeds benefiting Monongalia County school libraries.

Customers can select books ranging from Dan Brown and John Grisham thrillers to romance novels and reference books, said Sally Kirkpatrick, a volunteer at the Old Stone House.

Kirkpatrick said books are sold quickly and donations come in daily.

"Depending on how customers pack the books into the bags, they can really get a lot of material," Kirkpatrick said.

The Old Stone House, which was built in 1795 and is one of Morgantown's oldest standing buildings, is dedicated to giving back to the community, Kirkpatrick said.

"Whenever you shop in our gift shop, whether it's for books or gifts, it's always given back to help needy families," she said.

Schools benefiting from the sale vary with each year and are selected on a rotational basis, said Joan Bissett, publicity chair for the Service League of Morgantown.

Last year's recipients included South Middle, Suncrest Primary and Westwood Middle schools.

The funds raised are used to purchase everything from books to media supplies and other necessary items.

"We leave it at the discretion of the schools – it's for what they need at that particular time," Bissett said.

The Service League of Morgantown has been serving the community for 77 years and has donated more than $77,000 to Monongalia County schools.

"Books and literacy are always something we want to be supporting. Some families don't have enough money to buy their own books," Bissett said. "Especially now, the school system gets less and less funds from the state – school libraries really need anyone who's willing to donate."

The Old Stone House Gift Shop, located on Chestnut Street in downtown Morgantown, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.