Over the past six years, Melinda Reiter, president of Friends of the Manhattan Beach Library, has generated about $89,000 for the Manhattan Beach Library by selling donated books online.

Reiter estimates shes mailed about 8,000 packages of books both nationally and internationally, all of which her husband has packed for her. She mainly sells donated books through eBay.

I like the thrill of the big prices and watching bidders go higher and higher, even though its not my money, Reiter laughed. I dont know what gave me the idea, aside from I just saw everyone else making money from selling books online and I said, Why should they make the money? The library needs the money.

Last year alone, the Friends of the Manhattan Beach Library donated $25,000 to the library, which is used to help pay for everything from programs to books and magazines.

Reiter, a Manhattan Beach resident for 31 years, was recently honored as the County of Los Angeles Public Library's Adult Volunteer of the Year.

That was a real big surprise, because its a real big library system. It was such an honor. It pleased me, because I had done all this and I didnt know if anybody even knew what I had done, except the library of course, Reiter said.

Reiter started volunteering for the library when she retired from working as a computer programmer about 10 years ago. She volunteers about 20 hours a week.

We are so thankful for Melinda. Shes just so reliable and generous and wonderful. Such a great advocate for the library, said Manhattan Beach Librarian Melissa McCollum.Shes just incredibly hard working and reliable, freindly, very calm and supportive.

Reiter and others from Friends of the Manhattan Beach Library sort through book donations they receive in a small room on the southwest corner of the library known as the Friends Room. The room is filled with books sorted into different categories, such as Biographies or Business and Finance. Reiter researches the books to see which books are valuable enough to sell on eBay.

The most expensive book Reiter ever sold was The Tale of Archais by Aleister Crowley printed in 1898 in London. It sold for $586.

Shes also sold a video game for about the same price.

I actually sold one Nintendo (64) game for $600, '(Goldeneye) 007.' It was never opened. I thought, Oh! I had no idea it would be worth this much! Reiter said.

Reiter has also come across a few other interesting donations, including two signed Julia Child books that sold for $300 and $400, a Woodstock program and books signed by Donald Trump and Richard Nixon before their tenures as president.

Its just interesting going through these donated books. You never know what youre going to find, Reiter said.

In addition to selling donated books online, the Friends of the Manhattan Beach Library also hosts a used book sale every two months. It also has a permanent used book sale at the Manhattan Beach Library, where patrons buy used paperback books for 50 cents or hardcover books for a $1.

When asked if shes thought about retiring from volunteering for the library anytime soon, Reiter laughed and said, Ill be doing it as long as I can. I tell my husband, What else would I be doing? Cleaning house?

For more information about Friends of the Manhattan Beach Library, visitfriendsofthemanhattanbeachlibrariesinc.org/.

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Library's volunteer of the year raises $89000 by selling rare finds on eBay - Beach Reporter