Tuscaloosa’s Friends of the Library Bookstore Breaks Fundraising Record

A bookstore staffed entirely by volunteers was able to generate more than $100,000 for the Tuscaloosa Public Library last year, breaking previous records and providing support at a time when it's critically needed.

The TPL Friends of the Library Bookstore is attached to the main branch on Jack Warner Parkway, and inside, volunteers sell books which are donated daily by the west Alabama community.

The store, which only accepts cash or checks, is open at varying hours Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

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This modest fundraising operation has generated more than $1 million for TPL in the last 12 years, and Bess Miller, the chair of the FOL Board of Directors, said the last fiscal year was their best-ever for sales.

“We are thrilled to announce that primarily through the Friends of the Library Bookstore, we have been able to raise over $100,000, a goal that we have come close to several times and are excited to have reached this past fiscal year,” Miller said. “We could not have reached this incredible milestone without so many in the West Alabama community supporting our efforts and of course our wonderful, hardworking volunteers who make the bookstore so successful.”

Jennifer Pearson, the executive directors at TPL, said the humble store's benefit to the library is significant.

"I'm so thankful for our amazing Friends of the Library organization," Jennifer Pearson, executive director of the Tuscaloosa Public Library said. "Their support means the world to me and TPL. The impact of our 100 percent volunteer-run bookstore is truly remarkable, showcasing the power of community and the role it plays in supporting our Library."