The Friends of the Library book fair kicked off Thursday, and the first night started strong.

“We are very very surprised at the outpouring of people,” Friends’ member Peggy Keener said.

With $7,000 worth of books in one room, people were coming and going at a steady pace at the start of the sale Thursday evening. The sale will continue from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the small meeting room at the Austin Public Library, which is decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and green and red paper chains for the holidays.

The book fair is new this year, with brand new books from Barnes and Noble. The books are ticket price with no tax, since the Friends are a nonprofit. The sale has books for children, adults and teens, and also other items, such as calendars, journals, planners, cookbooks, 3D puzzles and games. There is also free wrapping paper with Friends’ members volunteering to wrap the books.

Tricia Wiechmann was excited about the fair, picking out books for her granddaughters.

“I think it’s fun to come in here and pick out some things because we don’t have a typical bookstore in Austin,” she said.

She wasn’t the only one enjoying the sale. People of all ages were looking through the books, and the Friends’ members planned to restock the next day. Friends’ President Sue Grove said the representative from Barnes and Noble will bring more books on Friday, and they are also taking orders for people who are looking for specific books. The orders may take a week to come in. Keener was already hopeful for next year.

“We’re testing the waters, the Austin waters here, to see,” she said. “I think we’ll probably do this again next year, and it will all depend on what happens this year.”

Kaye Hansen was also looking through the books Thursday, to find Christmas presents.

“I’m looking for Christmas presents for my kids and nieces and nephews,” Hansen said. “And of course I’m finding a few things for myself.”

Keener is glad to provide the community with a place to purchase new books, even if it is only for a small time period. She said the response has been good so far.

“I think people are happy,” she said. “I mean otherwise they wouldn’t be able to buy these books as gifts. I see people with four or five books going out of here.”

Profits from the sale will be donated to the Austin Public Library for programs like the children’s summer reading program, or to purchase books for children, help pay for entertainment throughout the year, help fund the Austin Page Turners program, fund author visits, and help fund the poetry contest in the spring.