ANNUAL LIBRARY BOOK SALE SET.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

VALENCIA - In the upcoming movie ``Serendipity,'' Kate Beckinsale writes her name and phone number in a book, then sells it to a used book store hoping that her love interest, John Cusack, will buy it and prove their love was meant to be.

Well, visitors to the annual Spring Used Book Sale might not find true love, but if it's romance they're looking for - romance novels that is - the Valencia Library is the place to be today through Monday.

``We have enough romance novels alone to buy a car if they were sold at full price,'' said Friends of the Libraries member Janet Huskey as she sorted through the boxes. ``This is going to be the most romantic book sale ever.''

Book sale coordinator Dorothy Anderson estimates that 15,000 to 20,000 titles have been donated for the sale, including mint condition hardcovers by Stephen King, Tom Clancy and John Grisham and, for the kids, hardcover Hardy Boys books, Dr. Seuss classics, American Girls boxed sets and chapter books galore.

``We've received more donations this year than any other,'' Anderson said. ``The community has been very generous.''

Hardcover books will be sold for $1, paperbacks for 50 cents and thin paperbacks for 10 cents. Children's book prices will range from 10 cents to a dollar, depending on the condition and size of the volume.

Proceeds from the sale will buy furnishings, new materials and special equipment for all three Santa Clarita library branches, located in Valencia, Newhall and Canyon Country.

``We could resell many of these books for a lot more if we chose to, but our priority is just to move the books out,'' Anderson said. ``So if you pick up a book and you think it has value, then we are very happy to let you have it for 50 cents or a dollar.''

A pre-sale for members of the Friends of the Libraries will be held 5-8 p.m. today, and it's never too late to become a member - even while standing in line to enter the sale, Anderson said.

``Whatever the incentive, we welcome anyone to join the Friends. We seem to get a lot of new members during book sale time,'' she said.

An individual membership is $10 annually, student and senior memberships are $2, and families are $15.

The sale will be open to the public 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday. Monday is bargain day with books at half price from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and $2/bag from 4-7 p.m. The Valencia Library is located at 23743 W. Valencia Blvd., Valencia.

Chaos usually ensues shortly after the doors open, with book lovers scurrying to find old favorites and new treasures at bargain prices. Strollers are not allowed in the sale area, to protect the safety of the small future readers.

``It's very festive. People get very excited when they find a book that they have been looking for,'' Anderson said.

Last fall's book sale raised a record $7,000, more than any other previous sale, and Anderson hopes that the spring sale will be just as successful.

``It's a lot of work, but you get a lot back from it at the end of the four days,'' she said.

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Valencia Library book sale coordinator Dorothy Anderson estimates that up to 20,000 titles have been donated.

David R. Crane/Staff Photographer