Batley Library's shelves 'decimated' by book sale mix-up

Friends of Batley Library held the book sale over two days last week

A West Yorkshire library's stock has been "decimated" after its books were mistakenly sold at a fundraising event.

Customers filled their bags with titles from the shelves of Batley Library during Saturday's £1 sale.

Only books laid out on a table were supposed to be on sale, but a Friends of Batley Library volunteer said "misinformed Facebookers" thought its entire stock was being sold off.

"It was like the worst of all jumble sales," Steve McGrath added.

Kirklees Council, which runs the building, confirmed that "some of the library books that weren't part of the sale were mistakenly sold".

Richard Parry, the authority's strategic director for adults and health, said he was "saddened" by the "unfortunate turn" the event had taken.

Friends of Batley Library held the "fill-a-bag" book sale over two days last week, with customers invited to take as many titles as they could fit in one bag for just £1.

Customers walked off with books from Batley library after wrongly believing they were for sale

Mr McGrath said Friday's sale had gone well, but the second day was "sabotaged" by claims on social media that the library was holding a closing-down sale.

"Far too many people filled their bags with actual library books from the library shelves, not from the sales tables, even though I stood on the balcony, ringing a bell and constantly telling people it was only the books on the tables that were for sale," he wrote in a Facebook post.

Mr McGrath said the library's children's books, adult fiction, graphic novels and cookery sections had been "decimated" by the "atrocious behaviour".

"People were even seen putting Lego from our Library Lego Club in their bags to take," he added.

"I am shocked, saddened and disappointed this has happened."

A council spokesperson said its library service had not yet undertaken a full inventory to establish how many and which books were taken.

The local authority added Batley Library "remains an important part of the community".

Mr Parry thanked Friends of Batley Library "for their continued support".

He said Kirklees libraries were "very fortunate" to have volunteers who "spend their free time organising and delivering community fundraising events".