The Register-Herald’s first Newspapers in Education book sale brought in more than $10,000 and placed about 20,000 books in the hands of readers.

Organizer Carla Nelson says she views the six-day sale, conducted by Beckley Newspapers, as a phenomenal success.

“With the money that we raised in the two weekends, we can actually put out 40,400 newspapers into the classrooms in southern West Virginia,” said Nelson, sales and marketing manager for The Register-Herald.

Nelson said 100 percent of the proceeds go to putting papers into school classrooms to assist teachers with lessons.

Peggy Jones, a retired school teacher of 34 years, said she volunteered to help with the book sale because it was such a great cause.

“Being a teacher, I love books,” Jones said, “but I really wanted to raise funds for the NIE program because it places newspapers in the hands of children and exposes them to different types of reading.

“We also had a wonderful selection from all kinds of different genres,” the volunteer continued, “for the youngest child, on up.

“We saw children, ministers, medical professionals and more. I don’t know of anybody who didn’t find something.”

Jones said they had repeat customers, some whom came as many as three times.

Book sale volunteer Cindy Worley said the sale was valuable for students, but it also got books into the hands of people who could not otherwise afford them.

“People were able to purchase $35 hardback books for $1,” she said. “In these economic times, that is wonderful.

“It was also heart-warming that every book was donated by people living in this community. By giving away books they had already read or had no use for, people were able to buy them at low prices.”

In conjunction with the book sale, Waldenbooks and Crossroads Mall sponsored a “special story time” Oct. 31 and Nov. 7.

“I want to thank all of the special celebrity story readers that came out and spent time reading stories and doing crafts with the children,” Nelson said. “We appreciate Crossroads Mall for working with us, the businesses that allowed us to set up collection bins and everyone that volunteered time and donated books.”

Nelson would also like to give special thanks to Scott and Cindy Worley, Peggy Jones, Myra Harper, Curtis and Karen Meadows, Patty Adkins, Mike Keyhill, Shaun and Erin Wood, Butch and Linda Freeman, Chris and Maddy Nelson, Kay Gaigal, Dee Sizemore, Katy Lafferty and Maxine Adkins.

Books left over from the NIE sale were delivered to Beckley-Appalachian Regional Hospital, Raleigh General Hospital, the Salvation Army, some United Way agencies and churches in the area.

Representatives from Beckley Newspapers and The Register-Herald’s Newspapers in Education program say they plan to make the used book sale an annual event.

— E-mail: cclark@register-herald.com