Just days after funding cuts forces it to temporarily close its doors, the Union County Carnegie Library will be the focus of a fund-raiser by the Friends of the Library.

Carnegie will be closed Aug. 10-15, the first of six week-long shutdowns over the course of the current fiscal year. The shutdowns are among several steps the library is taking to remain within its budget, which has experienced decreasing revenue over the last two years. These include cuts in state funding; the loss of state lottery funds; the elimination of Gates Foundation grants for technology upgrades; and no increase in the county tax millage since 2002.

The loss of revenue has also forced the library to reduce its operating hours from 54 hours a week to 44; furlough staff members for up to four weeks; and revamp its Bookmobile schedule.

Just as the library is being forced to cut back a fund-raiser is being held on its behalf by The Friends of the Library. The Friends will be selling used books and baked goods Aug. 14-16 at the Arthur Gregory Lions Building at 134 East Main St., Union.

The sale will be held:

• Friday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Saturday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

• Sunday, Aug. 16, 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Friends vice president Christine McWhorter said the timing of the sale was unintentional. Mrs. McWhorter said the sale was planned in June, well before the library announced its schedule of closings. She said the goal, however, remains the same — to raise funds to support the library, which she described as an important resource for the community.

“The library is a very important part of the community, a reference point as to how well a community works,” she said. “When my family came here, one of the reasons we chose Union was the Carnegie Library. Every time I go there, I find everything I want and if I can’t find it they get it for me. Especially now, with the South Carolina LENDS program, we have a tremendous resource.”

This is the second year the library has had to make painful choices to cope with the loss of revenue. In 2008, despite help from private donors, the library had to cut back on purchases of books and other materials. Mrs. McWhorter said the money raised by the sale will be used to help the library purchase new books and other materials this year. She said the books being sold have been donated by the public and culled from the library’s collection.

“The available books for sale include newer items donated by members of the community, duplicate donations made to the library and older materials removed from the library collections,” she said. “According to Carnegie library policy and standards set by the S.C. State Library, books are periodically weeded to ensure a current, useful collection for the community. Withdrawn items may include worn or damaged books, duplicate copies of seldom-used titles, outdated information and books that have not been checked out in the past three years. Because shelving space is limited in a small library, weeding is especially important.”

With as many as 1,500 books already donated and more coming in, Mrs. McWhorter said this will be the biggest fund-raiser The Friends have ever held. She said donations of used books, movies on video cassette or DVD, and video games will be accepted at the Lions Club building at the following times:

• Saturday, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• Tuesday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

• Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Donations of baked goods will be accepted on Friday and Saturday only. Mrs. McWhorter said they should be packaged, labeled with the contents and name of the baker, and priced to sell.

The Friends will also accept cash donations designated to purchase books for the library. Book donation gift forms are available at the library and checks may be made out to “Friends of the Union County Carnegie Library.” Contributions to The Friends are tax deductible.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Mrs. McWhorter at 251-0563.