DIVE IN TO THE WHALE OF A USED BOOK SALE!
The semi-annual sale is scheduled from May 28 through 31, at the Jeffco Fairgrounds
Wheat Ridge, CO: The Jefferson County Library Foundation (JCLF) announces that its spring 2026 Whale of a Used Book Sale will take place from May 28-31 at the Jeffco Fairgrounds, 15200 W. 6th Avenue in Golden. At the big event, booklovers and bargain hunters can dive into three exhibit halls teeming with 90,000 gently used books, CDs, DVDs, comic books, themed gift baskets, puzzles, games, and vinyl records, along with rare books and one-of-a-kind collectibles.
“This marks our 24th year producing this popular semi-annual sale,” says JCLF Board President Ron Benson. “The dollars we raise help support Jefferson County Public Library programs such as Early Childhood Literacy and Library Summer Reading.”
The spring sale opens Thursday evening, May 28, with Friends-Only Preview Night (for members of Friends of the Library), followed by three days – May 29 through 31 – when the event is open to the public. Sale items range in price from $.50 to $5.50. Rare and collectible items and gift baskets are individually priced.
Spring 2026 Whale of a Used Book Sale dates and times are:
• Thursday, May 28, 6 to 8 p.m. – FRIENDS ONLY Preview Night
• Friday, May 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Early Birds! Come in one hour early (8 – 9 a.m.) for $10 per adult!
• Saturday, May 30, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Half-Price Day for Educators, Friends and Jeffco Employees (with ID)
• Sunday, May 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Bag Day! A grocery-sized bag of books is just $12.
On Saturday, May 30, shoppers can also enjoy a pancake breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 am in front of the exhibit halls. This breakfast is hosted by the Rotary Club of South Jeffco.
At the Whale of a Used Book Sale, there is an entry fee of $5 per day for adults. Children under age 18 and SNAP recipients are admitted free. Shoppers can sign up and pay online or pay at the door. Pre-payment can be made at www.whalesale.org.
Besides bargain shopping, this event offers a boatload of volunteer opportunities such as cashiering, table tidying, and cart running. Plus, volunteers earn two free books for each four-hour shift they sign up for during set-up, during the sale, and afterward for post-sale clean-up. This is a great opportunity for corporate employee groups or civic clubs to come out and show their support for our public library!
For more than two decades, and at each individual event, JCLF’s Whale of a Used Book Sales have offered up more than 80,000 gently used books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and many more items. These sales enable the Foundation to raise thousands of dollars in support of the many free programs, services, and activities offered by Jefferson County Public Library.
This event is supported by JCLF’s 2026 Friends Community Partners: Denver7, Bank of Colorado, Ent Credit Union, Confluence Companies, Climb Credit Union, City of Golden, Dream Books, Rocky Mountain Safety & Security, National Laboratory of the Rockies, Lakewood Foothills Rotary Club.
For more information on the Whale of a Used Book Sale, or if you would like to volunteer or become a Friend of the Library, visit whalesale.org or call 303-403-5075 for details.
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About the Jefferson County Library Foundation
The Jefferson County Library Foundation and Friends of the Library work to support and enrich the capabilities, resources and services of Jefferson County Public Library through fundraising and advocacy efforts that benefit the community. The Friends of Jefferson County Public Library is a county-wide membership organization dedicated to enhancing the programs and resources of our libraries. For more information, visit www.jeffclf.org.
Cost: $5 for adults. Children under age 18 and SNAP recipients are free.
Location: Jefferson County Fairgrounds
Address: 15200 W. 6th Avenue, Golden, CO 80401
Member: Jefferson County Library Foundation
Contact: Renee Bergstrom, 303.403.5079, renee@jeffclf.org
Submitted by: Jo Schantz Hall, MNM, CFRE, GPC