From self-help to nature and how-to to holiday, many genres of books will be for sale during the annual American Association of University Women used book sale.

The sale began Wednesday, Aug. 6 and will conclude Saturday, Aug. 9 at First Church of Lombard.

Kathy Brenniman, by-laws and policy chair of the Lombard chapter of the AAUW, said this year’s selection of books — all 20,000 of them — is among the best in the 34 years of her membership in the AAUW.

“This year I think we have an excellent selection and have some very good books,” Brenniman said.

The sale began with a presale Wednesday with an entry fee.

“Most of the people that come on the opening night are serious collectors and sellers,” said Loretta Caputo, president of the Lombard AAUW. “The rest wait until there’s no fee on Thursday.”

Brenniman said other AAUW chapters in the area have noticed a decrease in the amount of collectors during the presale because of gas prices, among other reasons.

“A lot of people are getting their books over the Internet now, as well,” she said.

The books are sorted by genre among tables in the all-purpose room of the church at Main and Maple streets. All hardcover books are $2 and paperbacks are $1. On Saturday, buyers will be given a bag for $7 and can fill the bag with as many books that will fit.

Brenniman said there are between 200 and 300 books that have been appraised to be worth more and are sold in a separate room, but those books usually sell for less than $20. Audio books, DVDs and CDs are also for sale, but there are no textbooks or encyclopedias.

The sale raises about $10,000 for the AAUW, an organization that promotes the education and advancement of women.

“It’s our contribution to the education of women,” Caputo said.

The money raised from the book sale will be split. Part of the money will go to the national foundation which gives grants and fellowships to women. The money the Lombard chapter keeps, about 40 percent of the net profit from the book sale, stays local providing scholarships to area women.

“Last year we gave scholarships to senior girls at Glenbard East and Willowbrook high schools,” Brenniman said.

She added that scholarships also go to women returning to college to earn undergraduate or graduate degrees.