Students looking for cheaper textbooks may want to stop by the Ames Public Library used book sale this weekend.

The sale, which begins Friday evening, includes a wide variety of books from all genres, including textbooks.

Although the textbooks may not be the most current version, every year the sale includes textbooks, field guides and handbooks past students have donated to the library, said Susan North, Ames Public Library book sale coordinator and volunteer coordinator.

“Lots of students find things they know they are going to need in their classes, like the classics,” North said.

All hardcover books are $1 and paperbacks are 50 cents.

On Sunday, the last day of the sale, the prices are cut in half and people can also bring a box and pay a flat fee of $5 for all the books they can fit inside.

“People sometimes bring refrigerator boxes, and we love to see that,” North said.

She said it is important not to bring a box so large that, when filled, will be too heavy to carry.

“I have seen some people really struggle because boxes are too heavy,” she said.

The sale, which takes place twice a year, normally attracts about 1,000 people.

“You know we’ve never counted officially, but we are going to do it this time,” North said.

The sale is free Saturday and Sunday, but there is a $2 admissions fee Friday to cut down on the crowd.

Although the event begins at 5:30 p.m., North said people are usually standing in line by 1 p.m. By the time the sale begins, there are usually 150 to 200 people in line.

North said these people are normally “rabid collectors.” She said students may prefer to come on Saturday.

“There’s a ton left,” North said. “There are still lots of good deals left.”

The sale includes books, videos, records and CDs.

The library usually makes between $8,000 and $10,000 at each sale. They use the money they earn to buy more books, DVDs and CDs for the library’s collection.