Library Book Sale

Last summer, by random chance, Michael and I discovered that the Seattle Public Library holds a book sale twice a year. They fill one of the old warehouses in Magnuson Park almost entirely to the brim with books, and then sell the books for the most reasonable prices out there: 50 cents for paperbacks (75 cents for oversized paperbacks) and $1.00 for hardbacks. And those are the first day prices--the second day of the sale, everything is half price! Michael and I wandered around on the first day of the summer sale and were impressed by the selection, and ended up stocking our shelves for summer reading that weekend. We were both impressed by the turnout at this event. Seattle's record of being the best educated city in the country really shows at things like book sales. Seattle is the only place (other than a Harry Potter book release) that I've seen people line up around a block to get books.

This weekend, the library is having its fall book sale. I discovered last summer that it's best to be there when the doors open, so that I can be the first person in the line in front of the tables. I get less jostled that way. I was a bit bruised during the first-day rush last summer. The line this morning was once again around the block, but when I got inside the huge building, I managed to head straight for the mystery tables and stock up once again on silly mystery books (my fun reading). I spent $14, and walked out with 24 books, including two Stephen Kings that weren't in our collection (amazingly--we've been pretty thorough). Tomorrow, I'm planning to go to half-price day with Hope and Michael, to see if there's anything else we need. I have a hunch I'll manage to find another bag of interesting-looking books, and I'm sure Michael will find an armful. I didn't even scan the science fiction tables this morning.

And yes--I remember that a month ago I was whining about how many books we have. Now that we're not trying to move them, it hardly seems we have enough. There's nothing like curling up on a cold winter day with a mug of hot chocolate and a mystery book!