Friends of the Lincoln County Public Library are gearing up for their Holiday Book Sale, which kicks off Friday at the library and will continue through Saturday, Nov. 16.

Friends volunteer Eric Kaplan has been many hours at the library categorizing, organizing and placing dots on thousands of books, which will be offered for sale to the public. Prices range from 50 cents to $5.

“More than 12,000 books have been donated in the past year,” said Kaplan.

This is the Friends’ fifth book sale and second for 2013.

“We’ve raised more than $20,000 in less than two years,” said Friends’ President Pam Womack.

Womack and other volunteers are hoping to make 2013 a banner year by bringing in more than $25,000. The fall book sale will be the organization’s last fundraiser of the year.

Proceeds from the sale of books are used to provide items for the library.

To date, Friends have used the money to purchase a variety of items for the library, including books for children and adults, computers and equipment for the library desk.

“They’re making it possible to do things we couldn’t do before,” said Henry Ledet, Lincoln-Lawrence-Franklin Regional Library director. “It’s a wonderful thing they do for the library.”

The organization is also looking for new members and volunteers to help with the book sale.

“We have close to 100 members,” said David Holland, vice president of the Friends. “We always need more.”

Janice and Eric Kaplan are organizing volunteers for the two-week sale. They can be reached at (601) 757-9944 and (601) 757-6977.Volunteers will work three-hour shifts during the book sale, which will coincide with the library’s operating hours. The library will be closed on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

In addition to purchasing items for the library, Friends also promote literacy in the community. The organization has put together lunch-and-learn programs, silent auctions and celebrates National Library Week each April.

“The library is the great gathering place of the community,” said Womack.

The organization has a lot of plans in the works for the area in the coming year, such as starting movies at the library and subscribing to BookPage, a 32-page, monthly book review distributed through public libraries and bookstores nationwide.

Friends have also been visiting local nursing homes, where they restock their libraries and offer large-print books, said Kaplan.

In addition to the Holiday Book Sale, Friends are also planning their annual membership party for Friday, Nov. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Womack home at 519 S. Jackson St. Annual dues are $10.

“Anybody who is interested in books is welcome to join,” said Womack. “We need workers.”