When the Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library Book Sale bring the big tent back to the Branford green for its annual book sale Thurs. Sept. 28 - Sun. Oct. 1, in addition to offering over 70,000 books at rock-bottom prices, they'll share the green on Sat. Sept. 29 and Sun. Oct. 1 with a host of other community activities that add up to offerings the Friends are billing as, "Books and Beyond."

The Friends’ big book sale features over 20 categories of gently-used donated books as well as CDs, DVDs and more. The sale kicks off Thursday Sept. 28 with the 5 -7 p.m. Preview Event (free to Friends members, $15 to dealers and walk-ins; free admission to all from 7 p.m. – midnight). The sale continues Friday, Sept. 29 8 a.m. - midnight; Saturday, Sept. 30, 8 a.m. – midnight and Sunday, Oct. 1, noon -3 p.m. The sale features regular hardcover books for $3, trade paperbacks, $2, coffee table books $5 and up; pocket paperbacks 50 cents, DVDs $2 and CDs $1 (sets priced as marked). On Sunday, fill one of the Friends’ extra large bags (big enough for 20 hardcovers), for just $10.

Every day during the book sale, “Café Blackstone” will be serving Hummel hot dogs, chocolate chip brownies, cinnamon buns, crumb cake, chips, lemonade, water and coffee. Also every day during the sale, check out the Friends’ display of creative story book character pumpkins, submitted by community participants for the Friends’ Book Character Contest. Participants are invited to register in advance, then deliver their pumpkin on Thurs. Sept. 28 (between 6 -7 p.m.) dressed-up, spray painted or otherwise decorated as a favorite story book character (no carved pumpkins). A winner will be selected by the Friends to receive a $50 gift certificate to Sweets on Main (Branford). To enter, email name, book title to friendspumpkincontest@gmail.com

On Saturday and Sunday, as the book sale continues, additional programs hosted by Friends and community organizations will be taking place on the Branford green. Saturday, Sept. 30 is being billed as “Community Day,” when the Friends will share the green with Trinity Church, celebrating its 110th Church Fair; and bring in nature and environmental exhibitors. Participants will include Branford Land Trust, Friends of Outer Island, Shoreline Greenway Trails, Yale Peabody Museum’s Geology Exhibit, and several displays by Boy Scouts of America, Connecticut Yankee Council – Lighthouse District; with Pack 424 from Trinity Church setting up a campsite. First Baptist Church will be holding a baked goods sale to support its mission projects and First Congregational Church will be sharing news of its good works through mission projects and other programs.

On Sunday, Oct. 1, the Friends’ Book Sale will share the green with Branford Compassion Club’s (BCC) Animal Awareness Day from noon - 4 p.m., featuring the Blessing of the Animals at 1:30 p.m. The BCC fundraising event (free admission) will also feature live music; booths showcasing animal care, rescue and business vendors; children’s activities; a big bake sale, food trucks, visiting live animals (there's been tell of "yoga goats") and a cute critters a kissing booth, according to BCC’s Facebook page. At 1:30 p.m., community members are encouraged to bring pets of all shapes and sizes to the green to be blessed by local clergy representing several denominations. Photos of pets, past and present, are also welcome to be blessed.

Proceeds from Animal Awareness Day help non-profit BCC, a rescue organization founded in Branford and based in North Branford, to

provide for the feeding, shelter and care of shoreline area homeless, abandoned and feral cats; educate the public about spay/neuter population control, responsible pet ownership and kindness to animals.

Proceeds from the Sept. 28 - Oct. 1 Friend’s annual Book Sale allow all-volunteer Friends of the James Blackstone Memorial Library to support the library. Funds raised by Friends sponsor lectures and programs, provide for special programming with an emphasis on the library’s Youth Services Department as well as funding library equipment purchases, museum passes, movies, concerts, furniture and plantings for the library grounds.

Anyone can join the Friends of the Blackstone Library; for more information, email friends@blackstonelibrary.org or find Friends of the James Blackstone Library on Facebook. For more information on BCC, visit www.branfordcompassionclub.org