The Friends of Central Arkansas Libraries (FOCAL) Used Book Sale is a great family event disguised as a bargain-shopping event. Kids can enjoy picking out fun and educational books while parents skim the shelves for some new reads.

We all know how kids love to pick out new things to take home, so why not make it a book or two? On top of that, families can emphasize a philanthropic spirit by telling the kids that the money you're spending goes to FOCAL, a nonprofit that helps provide programs at library branches, book club kits, Summer Reading Club materials and special Saturday programming for children at the Main Library.

The sale is Oct. 27-29 on the Main Library campus. Night shopping is at 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 27 and is available when you purchase a $5 wristband that also gets you into the sale an hour early on Friday and Saturday. Sale hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and Saturday (9 a.m. admittance with wristband). FOCAL members have access to all hours and receive 50 percent off used books and 20 percent off gifts at River Market Books & Gifts.