Newfield unites for a weekend of fundraising and fun

Newfield enjoyed a bustling weekend filled with community activities as it hosted several local events, including a book sale at the Newfield Public Library, a bake sale by the Newfield Historical Society, a sportsman yard sale at the Rod and Gun Club and a craft fair organized by the travel club to fund a student trip to Costa Rica.

A key highlight on Main Street was the book sale at the Newfield Public Library, the first of four scheduled for the year. According to Library Director Sue Chaffee, the community contributes to the collection year-round, and those contributions are then offered at the sales. 

“The community has been very generous this year, so we have a large inventory,” said Chaffee. “There’s something for everyone.”

Chaffee noted that the books presented were not featured in previous sales. Any leftovers from the previous year were donated to the Ithaca Friends of the Library book sale.

“I would estimate 70% of the books we are selling right now have been donated by community members,” said Chaffee. “The rest, we periodically have to weed books out of our collection to make room for more, which is very difficult to remove items from our collection. But it pleases us to know that somebody will be able to purchase them in our book sale so that they will continue on in somebody’s personal collection.”

The Newfield Public Library has been serving the community since 1894. According to Chaffee, book sales are a significant component of the library’s fundraising efforts, contributing to various library needs. 

“People are very supportive of the library,” said Chaffee. “To pick up a lot for not a lot of money, and 100% of the proceeds goes to the library.”

Proceeds from the book sale are crucial in supporting the library’s wide array of services, which range from educational offerings like afterschool programs and family storytimes to recreational activities such as yoga and movie nights. In addition to their daily operational roles, volunteers and members of the library’s board of trustees dedicate significant time to meticulously organizing the book sale.

“They’ve been busy for the last several months sorting all of the donations that we’ve received in the last year,” said Chaffee. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s so much easier for our customers to shop our book sale when they’re properly sorted, so we put a lot of effort into that.”

The event featured a remarkable selection of around 2,500 items, all offered at just one dollar each. The library’s goal was to sell at least 1,000 of these items. The ground floor was a haven of children’s literature, while the basement offered various genres of books, puzzles, DVDs, and more. The atmosphere in the room was electric with excitement as patrons selected and purchased items, eager to add new treasures to their personal collections.

“It’s the first time we’ve been here, and it’s amazing,” said Tracy Davencort, a patron at the book sale. “We are in the big brother-big sister program. We’re helping each other find books and taking breaks to read some, so it’s fun.”

The event not only fostered community interaction but also promoted literacy among all age groups. The sale was an excellent opportunity for bonding over books, sharing stories, and discovering new interests together. This communal joy is a testament to the library’s impact, extending far beyond its walls and into the relationships it helps strengthen.

“The customers that come are always very excited to be here, and almost everyone finds something that they are very excited about,” said Chaffee.

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Planning board to meet

The Newfield Planning Board will convene for its first meeting of the month on May 1 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Newfield Town Hall. Community attendance is encouraged, and the meeting agenda can be found on the Town of Newfield website.

Board of Education meeting

The Newfield Board of Education will meet on May 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Weaver Conference Room on the second floor of the Elementary School. The budget vote will happen during the May 21 meeting.

Bloom into spring: Native plants workshop

Carlin Shew, New York State Parks program specialist, will lead an informative plant talk at the Newfield Public Library on May 5 from 4 to 5 p.m. Participants will get to take home pots that they have seeded with local wildflower species.