Books, Books, and More Books

This weekend is one of my favorite events of the year: the AAUW Used Book Sale.

 

If you are new to the area and love buying books, you’ve got to go to this event.  The mind boggles when you see just how many books are for sale (the mind will boggle when you see some of the prices, too – you’ll find some unbelievable deals).

 

All of the books are donated.  They come from long-time residents who are retired and moving away or downsizing to a smaller home and they are thinning out their personal book collections. They come from the estates of residents who have passed away.  They come from families whose children have outgrown their picture books and young adult novels.  And they come from people who are essentially recycling the books they’ve bought at previous sales.

 

My first trip to the book sale came when I was still in college, and I was walking back to my dorm from class.  I caught sight of all the books through the window of the HUB, and I decided to check it out.  I didn’t have much money on me, just same change in my coat pocket, but I was able to buy a copy of one of my favorite childhood books for 10 cents. 

 

When we moved back to State College 20 years ago, I volunteered for book sale. That first year I worked the check out, mostly because I was 6 months pregnant and the ladies wouldn’t let me do anything more strenuous.  The next year, I was volunteering to help move the books in, and I’ve been working move in night ever since.  Some years ago, I injured my wrist and knew I couldn’t lift boxes, so I asked if my son could come along to help me.  Seven years later, he’s a book sale regular and will be loading boxes of books onto the truck to be delivered to the Ag Arena.

 

Move in is a lot of hard work.  You get dirty.  You get sweaty.  Your arms ache.  I’ve been doing it for so long that I’ve got my routine down pat.  I prefer to do my table alone (other people mess up my system!). 

 

But when it is done, there are tables upon tables filled with books, all for sale.

 

I’ve heard people grumble that the pricing is inconsistent and or that some books are overpriced or that books might be in the wrong section.  I ask patrons to be patient and understanding.  The process of sorting and pricing books is done by volunteers, and while they are very good at what they do, they can’t be perfect. 

 

I also go to sale looking for specific books, but I know that it is the luck of the draw.  You have no idea what books will be there.  The luck of the draw can provide some unbelievable special finds, too.  One year, I stumbled across the autobiography of one of my favorite political figures, a book that had been out of print for probably 30 years. 

 

The sale is at the Ag Arena, up near the stadium, beginning May 12 and ending on May 15 with the popular bag day ($5 for a bag of books).  I can’t think of a better way to spend Mother’s Day weekend than browsing through thousands upon thousands of books.