<em>Top photo: Chris Coats, center, looks at a book titled “Soul Mates” with friend Jennifer Drugge while browsing through the How To &amp; Self Help section of the annual Friends of Beaufort Library Book Sale at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. Photos by Bob Sofaly.</em>
<h3>By Bob Sofaly</h3>
The Friends of Beaufort Library recently held its annual book sale under the pavilion at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

According to early figures, it was one of the most successful sales yet.

“We unloaded 900 boxes containing 730,000 books this year,” said Marilyn Harcharik, president of Friends of Beaufort Library. “We also had to add 24 extra tables to hold them all.”

Last year the book sale raised about  $20,000 for the Beaufort County Public Library branches in Beaufort, Lobeco and St. Helena Island.

“Our goal this year to exceed that amount,” Marcharik said. “So far the numbers are all ready ahead of last year.”

[caption id="attachment_30153" align="aligncenter" width="1400"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/RES6107.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-30153"><img class="size-full wp-image-30153" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/RES6107.jpg" alt="There were 900 boxes of books donated to the Friends of Beaufort Library sale to support the Beaufort, Lobeco and St. Helena Island library branches." width="1400" height="965" /></a> There were 900 boxes of books donated to the Friends of Beaufort Library sale to support the Beaufort, Lobeco and St. Helena Island library branches.[/caption]