CANTON — The local Friends of the Library group is gearing up for a book sale to benefit Cherokee County Libraries.

The nonprofit group will host the sale at the Hickory Flat library from Aug. 18 to Aug. 20.

The event serves as a fundraiser, with money going to help the library purchase additional material for its collections.

“This helps keep the stacks current and up to date,” said Vivian Little, the public relations chair for the Friends of the Library in Cherokee County. “Libraries do not get money for books. They only get money for facilities, salaries and things like that.”

The group holds a sale at each of the five branches in Cherokee County.

The Cherokee County libraries are part of the Sequoyah Regional Library System, which also serves Pickens and Gilmer

counties.

The first $1,000 raised through the event will go directly to the Hickory Flat Library, with the rest to be divided between the other four branches.

Susan MacFarland, a member of the Friends of the Library and volunteer at the Hickory Flat branch, said the funds will go to help the library buy new children’s books.

“The need is great,” she said. “If we didn’t bring in this money, it wouldn’t be here at all.”

MacFarland said the Hickory Flat Library book sale is one of the most popular and generates the most funds.

“We have a little friendly competition among the branches and Hickory Flat usually wins.”

She said she hoped the sale would generate about $2,000.

The Friends of the Library’s last sale was at the Ball Ground Library in May.

That sale generated $1,200. The next sale is set for October at the Rose Creek Library in Woodstock.

Donations are accepted year-round for the book sales. Gently used books can be dropped off at any Cherokee County library branch.