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n a room on the lower level of the Headquarters Library, volunteers were sorting books, DVDs and other materials for the library's first used book sale since a fire damaged the building in 2008.

Book sale chairman Barbara Kiser and maintenance worker George Evans were busy fitting together metal shelves.

"I think we're a little off," Kiser said. "That bracket needs to come up ... OK, give me a shelf."

It has been more than a year and half since the Friends of the Library's last book sale. The quarterly events were widely anticipated for anyone looking for books, CDs, magazines and DVDs at near-unbeatable prices. Most books sold for no more than 50 cents. Magazines cost a dime. CDs and DVDs sold for a fraction of what they would go for at a store.

In August 2008, the Friends, a volunteer group that supports library activities, were preparing for their fall sale when an electrical fire damaged the lower level of the library.

Because of smoke damage, the library did not open to the public until May of last year. The Friends were unable to hold their sales while the building was being renovated and materials cleaned.

It was a real blow to the organization. Most its operating funds come from the sales. The Friends use the money to sponsor summer reading programs and to bring in authors to speak at the library.

"It's very important. It's one of the only ways we have of bringing in money, that and our memberships," said Kiser, a volunteer for 18 years. "All the proceeds go for things that the library cannot put in their budget."

The organization has brought in authors such as Clyde Edgerton, Amanda Lamb and Margaret Maron.

While the renovation work proceeded, the Friends kept their books in a storage facility. Some of the books are donated by the public. Others are given to the Friends by the library when they are discarded or replaced.

Next week, the first sale since the fire will be held. A members-only sale is Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. A sale that's open to the public is Feb. 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In recent weeks, volunteers have been sorting through the books and other materials. Items for sale include current best-sellers, classics by authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charles Dickens, craft books and cookbooks, paperback mysteries, romance and science fiction and magazines such as National Geographic.

Kiser said she couldn't say exactly how many books and other materials will be offered.

"I'd have to say thousands; I truly don't know," she said.

In the past, the book sales attracted people from out of state, as well as local book lovers. A typical sale would bring in a few hundred customers, Kiser said, and net $5,000 to $7,000 for the Friends to spend on library programs.

Kiser said she hopes those same bargain hunters turn up for the new sale.

"This sale is not going to be as organized as I would like it to be," Kiser said. "But we're just happy to be back and to be moving forward and selling our books."