NATCHEZ — Camille Tedder and Faye Lehmann found a community through their love of books.

“This is just fun, you get to see people who have the same interest as you,” Tedder said. “You get to see them over and over.”

Lehmann and Tedder volunteer at the Judge George W. Armstrong library, and they have for nearly a decade.

The pair is part of the group Friends of the Library, whose members are supporters of the Natchez library who raise money to support library programs.

The two ladies are involved with the Friends by selling books every third Saturday of the month, which is one of the two times the library hosts a book sale.

“They are very faithful volunteers with the friends group,” Book Sales Chair Candy Strader said. “The book sales last a couple of hours, you don’t even have to remind them. They show up every third weekend.”

Both Tedder and Lehmann describe themselves as voracious readers.

Lehmann said she reads two to three books a week, and Tedder claims nearly 60 books a year.

“It’s an escape from boredom,” Lehmann said.

Both Tedder and Lehmann are in their mid-80s, and said they do not get to go and do as much as they use to.

To the pair, giving their time to the library pays them back with a community they always have something in common with.

“You get out, and you see people,” Lehmann said. “And we go get a sandwich and have lunch together.”

Tedder echoed Lehmann’s sentiment.

“It’s an outing we look forward to,” Tedder said.

Both Lehmann and Tedder are involved in other parts of the community, such as volunteering at Jefferson Street Methodist Church, but the library is a more relaxed environment.

“The nice thing is that it’s a group you can belong to where you don’t have to do anything but love the library,” said Maria Bowser who is President of the Board of the Friends of the Library.

Bowser said she has been impressed by the dedication of the two women.

“They’ve been doing it longer than I’ve been associated with the library,” Bowser said. “And they’re wonderful. They’ll shelve, they’ll work, and they are so good with the people.”

Bowser said the third Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon is normally when the book sale sees the most traffic.

The book sale also happens on the first Tuesday of every month.

Paperback books are 50 cents, hard cover books are $1.

The money goes into the Friends of the Library Fund, which has been used to pay for the library’s alarm system, the summer reading programs and remodeling the book saleroom, which can be used by the community.

“You cannot get a better bargain than a book for $1,” Tedder said.

The library will host a sale from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday.