Library volunteers preparing for holiday raffle and sale

Monroe — The staff of the Monroe Free Library are gearing up for this year’s Holiday Boutique, to be held on Dec. 3 and 4. In the annual sale, volunteers donate their efforts to raise money for the library by selling baked goods and high-quality used books. Raffle tickets are available now at the library’s Circulation Desk; the winning raffle ticket will be drawn at the event. First prize is an Apple iPad 2, with wireless 3G connectivity. Second prize is a gift basket featuring goods contributed by library staff members. Monroe resident (and Friend of the Library) Sheila Stein donated a handmade plush child’s pillow and Fran’s Hallmark of Monroe donated several items, including a ten dollar gift card. Library staffers Melanie Turner and Cora Colella donated a variety of cookies, candies and books (and the basket). Hundreds of items will be available for sale at the sale, most in like-new (or “nearly-new”) condition. In the past, the volunteers have used the sale proceeds to make gifts to the library, in the forms of donations to the collection and of hardware (like a disc cleaner that extends the life of DVDs and CDs).