Second Edition Resale Shop

The Second Edition Resale Shop began as an annual rummage sale known as the M.E.S.S. (Miscellaneous Etcetera Super Sale). This sale was used to help finance the growing Cedar Mill Community Library. After 12 years, when the merchandise for the M.E.S.S. filled storage sheds and garages all year, a group of association volunteers presented a business plan for a resale shop to the Cedar Mill Community Library Association Board of Directors. The plan indicated that the community would support an upscale resale shop. The shop would operate year round with volunteers and a half-time shop coordinator. Cedar Mill Community Library Association’s Board of Directors approved the creation of Second Edition Resale Shop and provided initial funding. The shop opened in 1987.

Today our thriving resale shop fills two needs: Recycling goods through the community at reasonable prices and the shop profits benefit the library.

The first year, the shop grossed $33,000. During Fiscal Year 2015-2016, the shop netted $164,500 for the CMCLA’s annual operating budget. The shop is the major ongoing fundraiser for the library association. Since 1999, the shop has raised over $2.2 million for the Association.

This has helped the library association to fund a major library expansion in 2001, the Bethany branch opening in 2007, Bethany expansion in 2009, and library remodeling in 2015. Since we don’t have a city to fund building projects, we rely on Second Edition sales. Thanks for your support!

The management of the shop is under the guidance of the Cedar Mill Community Library Board of Directors. Second Edition Management Committee members meet quarterly to review and advise the shop on marketing, merchandising and shop operations in order to earn maximum financial support for the CMCLA. The committee is chaired by Diana Johnson, CMCLA board member. The Library’s Executive Director, Peter Leonard, supervises the Resale Shop Manager, Nancy Paysinger.

Second Edition Resale Shop volunteers play a vital role by accepting, sorting, appraising, and selling donated merchandise. These volunteers range from teenagers to octogenarians. They are dedicated to making the shop a success and are passionate about supporting the library.