Thousands of books are hitting the for-sale shelves this week as the Friends of the Lawrence Public Library organizes its fall book sale.

The twice-a-year sales generate tens of thousands of dollars for the library, 707 Vt. The spring sale raised $70,000.

New this sale is a silent auction of rare items. The items will be on sale after noon Thursday. A few of the items include an 1871 copy of “What the Moon Saw and Other Tales” by Hans Christian Andersen and an autographed copy of Walter Cronkite’s “A Reporter’s Life.”

Sale times are:

• 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, members-only night.

• 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday.

• 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday.

• 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 4, half-price day.

• 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 5, $7 bag night.

• 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 6, $5 bag night.

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 10 and 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 11, giveaway days.

Proceeds from the sale support such programs as summer reading, author visits, material purchases and Internet access at the library.