The annual spring Friends of the Lawrence Public Library book sale opens Thursday afternoon at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, where it has been moved while work continues on the library’s permanent home at Seventh and Vermont streets.

Thousands of books, audio books and DVDs will be on sale in Buildings 1 and 2 at the fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St., said Susan Brown, marketing director for the library.

The first night, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, is reserved for members of The Friends of the Lawrence Public Library, a non-profit group that runs the sale to support the library. But anyone can sign up to join the group at the door and gain admittance, Brown said.

The sale will be open to everyone from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from noon to 6 p.m Sunday, when books will be discounted to half-price. Prices at the sale typically run from 75 cents to $7.50, with the money going to benefit summer reading programs and other library efforts. Some of the books and other items on sale were donated by the public, while others were once part of the library’s collection.

This year’s book sale is shorter and lacks special features such as Bag Night and Free Day, which have been popular in other years, because it is being held at the fairgrounds, Brown said. The library’s temporary location at Seventh and New Hampshire streets was too small to accommodate the sale.