BEVERLY — We weren't trying to play "stump the librarian," but that's how it turned out.

With the annual Friends of the Beverly Public Library book sale starting tomorrow, we asked Library Director Pat Cirone just how many books will be on sale at the popular event, which spans eight days.

"I don't think we've ever counted," she said. "I would say well over a thousand."

Whatever the exact number, the best advice is to get there early on the first day if you want a chance at the best stuff (it's all donated). Cirone said the line forms even before the doors open at 9 a.m.

Some of those buyers are used-book dealers looking for books they can turn around and sell, she said. The DVDs usually sell in the first couple of hours.

The event raises between $4,000 and $5,000, Cirone said, and helps pay for the free museum passes available at the library, among other things. Paperbacks go for 50 cents, and hardcovers are $1.

Casting a spell

If you need to check your spelling, just ask a third-grader.

More than 500 third-graders in Beverly are now, or soon will be, in possession of new dictionaries thanks to the Beverly Rotary Club. This is the fifth year in a row the Rotary has given out the books as part of the national Dictionary Project.

Rotary members handed out the dictionaries to all of the public school third-graders last week and will soon do the same at the city's private schools, said the Rotary's Alex Ushakoff, who runs CCI Reprographics on Cabot Street.

Ushakoff said studies show that third grade is an ideal time to put a dictionary in a student's hand.

"It seems important that if you can make that dictionary their own property and they can keep it in their backpack or in their own desk, it would be extremely useful rather than a big dictionary on the table in the middle of the classroom," he said.

Soup-er night

More than 100 people showed up for the "Skip a Meal" fundraiser at St. Peter Episcopal Church on Tuesday, according to Connie Woodbury, the outreach coordinator for St. Peter's.

Participants raised $885 for Oxfam America by donating the price of their skipped meal and gathered at the church to enjoy one of 18 different types of soup.

Temple B'nai Abraham, St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and St. John the Evangelist Church also sponsored the event.

We hear Mayor Bill Scanlon even stopped by.

Library book sale

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30, 1 to 5 p.m.