One local grassroots group is doing its part to keep its adopted institution on solid footing.

The Friends of the Dunwoody Library is hosting its latest book sale Thursday through Saturday and Monday.

The volunteer-comprised entity anticipates moving thousands of units of printed product — at $1 and $2 — with proceeds going toward the multi-faceted venue.

“We exist to help the library with labor and publicity, but our biggest help is with funds,” said Mike Morrisey, a longtime Friends member. “The way we raise most of our money is through book sales. The thing is people don’t realize how tight things are [financially] for the library.”

The group’s past endeavors have resulted in significant beautification and upgrades to the Dunwoody Library facility and campus in recent years. New carpeting, lighting and a reconfigured entranceway are among the changes implemented under the group’s watch.

An estimated 20,000 of the 25,000 gently used books spanning all conceivable genres and meticulously categorized for sale are expected to be sold, said Friends of Dunwoody Library President John Nuzzulo.

The remaining paperbacks and hardbacks will likely end up in the hands of Good Samaritans representing an array of interests.

“Besides donating books to the Goodwill and [Veteran’s Administration], there’s a lady whose sister is a nun in inner city Cincinnati and we’ve dealt with a guy who takes books to the DeKalb County jail and so on,” Nuzzulo said. “The reach of the charities [we collaborate with] really is amazing.”

Nuzzulo and company’s own charitable endeavor could not come at a better time.

Dunwoody’s is the second busiest in the 22-branch DeKalb library system. Like its sister venues, the Dunwoody branch is tasked with trying to maintain its level of services while overcoming financial woes.

“There’s so little fat in the budget, the [library] is really starting to feel it,” Morrisey said. “[Some staff] leaves and no replacements are hired … as it starts losing people, there’s a pretty big danger that we’ll have cutbacks here.”

The other primary financial challenge pertains to the county’s dwindling budget for buying books and other materials the past couple years, Morrisey noted.

“It really is a huge asset to the community,” he said. “People have gotten out of the habit of showing up and taking advantage of what it has to offer … but they can always come back.”

If you go
What: The Friends of the Dunwoody Library book sale
Where: Dunwoody Library
When: Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. (members only); 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (open to public); Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday (bargain day), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Elsewhere: The Atlanta Association of University Women Book Fair will be at Perimeter Mall today through Sunday.
Information: www.bookfairaauw.org.