I can’t believe I missed the first day of the Court House library book sale! Usually, I have it scheduled way in advance.
If orthodontist or music lesson appointments have already been scheduled, they are cancelled. The chiropractor is put on hold. Breakfast dishes are left in the sink, and me and my entourage dash downtown to be first in line with like-minded patrons with their bags and boxes, even before the library opens.
Librarian and organizer of the twice yearly sale, Carol Hodlofski told me, “I know of a woman who plans a year ahead of time so her vacation won’t coincide with the sale.”
This time around I wasnt even aware they were conducting the sale until the morning of the last day. I came away with nothing. Hodlofski noted, “There’s not much left. We’ve cleared out more books by the third day of this sale than any other sale before it.”
It’s my own fault, I confess. Over the summer my loyalties went elsewhere, the Avalon Free Public Library. Having to drop off and pick up my kids everyday to and from their summer jobs at Hoy’s in Avalon, it was the natural thing to do to apply for an Avalon library card. You just have to be a resident of Cape May County. And let’s face it, the building is cheerful and beautiful, the programs offered are superb, and they have all the latest music CDs, books, and movies. You can’t beat a free just-released movie rental.
But my traitorish ways made me miss out on one of my favorite things to do out of the year. Why my favorite? Well, I do love to read. Right now I’m into Anne Tyler. Where else can you get a hardcover book for 25 cents?
My love of literature isn’t the only reason for my book sale passion, however. At my first introduction to the sale I picked up a pristine 1920 Rutgers University yearbook. When I got it home I noticed that there was only one black graduate, and he had lettered in four sports! This could be someone special. The smiling young man’s name didn’t ring a bell with me, so I awoke my hubby out of his needed sleep to ask, “Have you ever heard of Paul Robeson?” Of course he had. Robeson was a famous actor, singer, author and activist. I auctioned the yearbook on Ebay and was thrilled to make $425 from my 25-cent investment.
I’ve seen a couple who bring a computer with them, gather books in a corner and look up their value as they shop,” noted Hodlofski.
Ever since my big windfall, I have been a faithful first-day library booksaler, but mostly I buy for my own enjoyment and that of my kids. What the sale did do is peek my interest in the worth of books. I did my research and I’m pretty knowledgeable on children’s fiction now. Unfortunately, the Rutgers yearbook was my only killing, although I did find a set of dilapidated Cherry Ames one year. Another buyer saw them in my box and said, “Where did you get those? If I had seen them I would have scoffed them.”
And there lies the real reason I love the library book sale. Ahhh, the thrill of the hunt.