The Pearl River County Library System is extending its annual book sale by a week at both the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library and Poplarville Public Library.

The book sale that began on April 29 in Picayune and May 5 in Poplarville is now expected to last until May 18.

Pearl River County Library System Director Carol Phares said this year’s book sale received a tremendous response, making it one of the most successful in several years.

Phares said the library was able to raise $6,200 through the sale. Any funds raised during this event will be used to purchase new books and support the library’s annual summer reading program beginning in June.

The summer reading program is one of the library’s major events, designed to attract children to the library and engage them in reading activities during the summer break that enhance their reading skills, Phares said.

Staff at the Poplarville Public Library hope to see the anticipated increase in sales during the week-long extension, said branch manager Denise Davis.

“We’ve collected a little over $700, but the sale hasn’t been as profitable as it was last year,” Davis said.

Phares said the active participation of volunteers helped make this year’s sale successful.

“I appreciate the volunteers, if it weren’t for their effort in putting on this book sale, I don’t know where we would be as we don’t have a book budget,” she said.

Recent fundraising initiatives are also contributing to the betterment of the library.

At the Murder Mystery Dinner fundraiser held last month, the library raised about $500. Those proceeds will be used to renovate the circulation desk to make it more easily accessible for people with disabilities, Phares said.

For more information about the sale, contact the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library at 601-798-5081 and Poplarville Public Library at 601-795-8411.