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Friends of the Memphis Public Libraries
Book Sale (held three times each year see below for 2008 dates)
Central Library Events Room
3030 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111
415-2700

For some of us, used books are an addiction. I can’t drive past a yard sale with boxes of books and my husband has threatened to leave me to get me out of Powell’s in less than three hours. So part of me can’t believe it took me more than two years of living in Memphis to attend the Friends of the Library’s quarterly book sale.

As I pulled into the library on Thursday, I envisioned spending a casual twenty or thirty minutes browsing the used books and then picking up a few things I had on hold. I did not expect a crowd of half-crazed and frantic book lovers and resellers jockeying for prime position and elderly ladies unafraid to throw an elbow if a coveted book was spotted.

It is madness. But with stacks of .25 cent children’s paperbacks, .50 cent children’s hardbacks and $2 adult hardbacks, I can see how things might get out of hand (I didn’t write down the prices for videos, cds, paperbacks, but nothing was more than $2 each.)

The books are definitely used. Most of the toddler board books are in shreds — held together by tape and many of the picture books had rips or pages colored with crayons. But there were may gems too — I got several Eric Carlyle and Audrey Woods books that were in decent shape, along with two board books that had only mild wear. If I’d had more time to browse and was not hampered by only having $10 in my pocket and an anxious two year old attached to my leg, I’m sure I could have found many more bargains. There was a well used red riding hood picture book with a broken binding, but tremendous illustrations that I would have loved to purchase and then repurpose the pictures for wall hangings or other projects.

I also picked up several used Living Simple magazines for .10 each and found dozens of books in the Parent/Teacher section that I would have loved to purchase. I ended up taking home two storytelling books (one of which I’ve checked out of the library no less than five times) and a how to teach your child to read book, with lesson plans. A real score for me, since I was ready to pay full price for a similar book.

The crowd was rowdy and seemed to be a mix of professionals (one guy had a hand-held scanner and was scanning each book), audiophiles (couldn’t get near the records section) and moms. I saw one mom loading up on pre-teen serial books (think babysitters club) and I immediately understood the bargain she was getting.

Once you’ve gathered your books (helpful attendants are quick to offer boxes and library carts to help). You get them counted and totaled at the ticket table. Then you head to the cashier’s table to pay (cash and visa with a $5 minimum).

I’m going to work next year’s sale into my schedule and come prepared with no children and a bigger budget. The sale is put on by the Friends of the Memphis Public Library, which also runs the used bookshop and cafe in Central Library. The dates for 2008 sales are:

• February 28, 29 and March 1
• August 21, 22, 23
• December 4, 5, 6

If you are interested in the Friends of the Library organization or in helping with these book sales, you can join the organization  by picking up an application at any library location or use this online application form. Members receive monthly library events calendars, Book Sale and Special Event Notices.  Book Sales are also listed on the What’s New page when scheduled. For more information call: 415-2840

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 8th, 2007 at 7:08 pm and is filed under Central Library, Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.