NW Ohio/SW Mich - Books!

[Pedeka]

I'm not advertising, just sharing one of my favorite thrifting opportunities. I might be all alone in the area, but it's too cool not to mention, just in case. Toledo Lucas County Friends of the Library have a used and donated book sale that is open to the public a few times a year. The next one is set up for Friday August 1 and Saturday August 2 from 9-4. The awsome part is that on Saturdays the books (and records and books on tape and videos) are $5 for all you can stuff in a paper sack and $7 for a box (they furnish bags and boxes) I fill my car for $30 bucks and am a happy camper. Their store is in Toledo in the Reynolds Corners Shopping Center on Reynolds Rd and Dorr St. Maybe I'll bump into someone there 

[SeSo_Says_So]

Whooo-hoooo! I w0n't be there physically, but i will be with you in spirit. Let us know the treasures you find.

At 0ur local friends sale, the dealers get there hours ahead of with their scanners and stand in line discussing selling stuff on ebay. I am not a resaler and they are always lovely to me. But it seems there is a great deal of competition going on! Is it like that at yours? 

[Pedeka]

Nothing electronic is allowed in the building during the sale. You get a dirty look if your cell phone is visible. It's just lots of women in denim skirts and sensible shoes, tweedy slightly balding men and people with young kids buying books that are ok to destroy. I think that dealers acting like that would totally ruin the experience for me.

[SeSo_Says_So]

Nothing electronic is allowed in the building during the sale. You get a dirty look if your cell phone is visible. It's just lots of women in denim skirts and sensible shoes, tweedy slightly balding men and people with young kids buying books that are ok to destroy. I think that dealers acting like that would totally ruin the experience for me.

 

It sounds like the library sales I went to in the 80s....all these well-bred librarians and suburban matrons quietly purusing the first editions before tea-time. Of course, it was another century and another state (CT) Now, here in Florida, the dealers arrive to stand in line three to four hours before the sale, complete with cellphones, book scanners and boxes. Some bring their families and they all spread out upon entry--each one takes a section.  It's always the same people. I don't know what they are looking for (well, most of them); some look specifically for kids' books, and I've seen one person (who drives a luxury car) buy boxes of art books. Everybody is on their cells checking titles and prices over the internet.  It's a madhouse. I have found some good stuff, (and I buy specifically for myself, NOT for resale) but I never even get to look at the really good stuff, because by the time I get into the room, it's been picked. But everyone does seem to be very well-mannered and polite, if a bit frenzied.  The day you describe would be the last day of the sale, when books are a buck a bag. Then we have retirees in Dockers and "Worlds Favorite Gramma" knit shirts buying the romances and Westerns and Oprah-recommended fiction, God Bless 'em.  It is a blessing because we are a poorer county with lots of people on a fixed-income. Then they redonate the books and stock up until the next sale. 

[mccoysnina]

I'm not advertising, just sharing one of my favorite thrifting opportunities. I might be all alone in the area, but it's too cool not to mention, just in case. Toledo Lucas County Friends of the Library have a used and donated book sale that is open to the public a few times a year. The next one is set up for Friday August 1 and Saturday August 2 from 9-4. The awsome part is that on Saturdays the books (and records and books on tape and videos) are $5 for all you can stuff in a paper sack and $7 for a box (they furnish bags and boxes) I fill my car for $30 bucks and am a happy camper. Their store is in Toledo in the Reynolds Corners Shopping Center on Reynolds Rd and Dorr St. Maybe I'll bump into someone there 

I love our local library sales.  Lots of great books, dirt cheap prices.  When I clean out my bookcases I donate them to the library sale then have to be careful not to buy them back.   Haven't seen many dealers there.  That's OK with me though, less competetion.
Jeannie

[Good Buddy]

I'm not advertising, just sharing one of my favorite thrifting opportunities. I might be all alone in the area, but it's too cool not to mention, just in case. Toledo Lucas County Friends of the Library have a used and donated book sale that is open to the public a few times a year. The next one is set up for Friday August 1 and Saturday August 2 from 9-4. The awsome part is that on Saturdays the books (and records and books on tape and videos) are $5 for all you can stuff in a paper sack and $7 for a box (they furnish bags and boxes) I fill my car for $30 bucks and am a happy camper. Their store is in Toledo in the Reynolds Corners Shopping Center on Reynolds Rd and Dorr St. Maybe I'll bump into someone there  Wink

Please feel free to post great sales like this in the forum.
You can also click the "Calender" link and post the info likr I'm about to do as an "Event"..

[Pedeka]

I know that I should donate books back, but sadly, my sticky 'lil English Major fingers can't seem to let go of books in any amount. About the best I can do is loan a book to a friend.  This is the reason why someday they will find my body, pressed like a dried flower, underneath a stack of copies of Alice in Wonderland and mid century interior decorating books.

[SeSo_Says_So]

I know that I should donate books back, but sadly, my sticky 'lil English Major fingers can't seem to let go of books in any amount. About the best I can do is loan a book to a friend.  This is the reason why someday they will find my body, pressed like a dried flower, underneath a stack of copies of Alice in Wonderland and mid century interior decorating books.

Aging English Major (Psych and History minors) here...trust me, it gets easier to release those billions of books as you get older. Hubby (MS--Comp Engin, BS, Pysch, BS EE so you can imagine our collective collections ) and I must have donated close to a thousand books since the millenium--and we've sold some, too.  Now the only books I buy are books I can't find at the library or books I must have---which isn't every one I see any longer. Currently, I am attempting to re-read _War and Peace_ from a HC hubby picked up in the 80s--it was published in 1942 and has an intro from the world historical perspective of the time--Hitler. Very interesting! 

It's been easier for me to release my books because I'm releasing everything that doesn't serve. I'm downsizing my "stuff". It is such a tedious process, but o! what a feeling! Freedom from "stuff"! Of course, I still have miles to go before I sleep

[Pedeka]

I managed to get out of the booksale with only 3 bags of books (such restraint!) We got some gorgeous children's picture books and some Richard Scarey for the baby.

Our basement got deeply floodedlast month and I lost a good portion of my "Wonderfully horrible and dated" Interiror design book collection. But joy of joys!!!! They had copies of 3 of my very favorite destroyed books! 
D'ARCY, BARBARA Bloomingdale's Book of Home Decorating
New York: Harper & Row 1973. Hardcover with dustjacket. 4to. Third printing. Book is in fine condition. Jacket is in near fine condition; there is scuffing to covers and edges are lightly worn. Contains numerous color and black and white photographs. Not price-clipped. In protective mylar. Classy design ideas circa 1970 from a decorator long associated with the New York department store. 271 pp. including index. ISBN 0-060-10948-3
This one is my very favorite. Someday I will scan in the pictures. The designer gets very Barbarella. Awesome!

I took a co-worker there and we shopped and went for lunch. After lunch she had to go back just to see if she missed anything. Another convert.

[akbjr]

Awesome about finding the books that you had lost in the flood. That is way cool. That's a very professional description of that book. Wow. I completely understand about not being able to let go of books. I am currently working with a realtor lady who has helped me "above & beyond" in helping me to sell things prior to selling my house. I have lived alone in a slightly "going downhill" older house since my husband passed away 2 years ago, & badly need to sell & move into a small condo or apartment. Unfortunately I've had the luxury of almost unlimited storage space, as it's a 2 story 4+ bedroom house with a couple of storage buildings..... Imagine downsizing from that! I have boxes of books that were packed up years ago with the idea of donating them, + shelves & shelves of books, piles on the floor by the bed, you know how it goes. I'm supposed to be sorting for the used book store & to donate to some places I want to take books to. It's so hard Have been in this house for almost 11 years now. Longest I've ever lived in a place.

[Pedeka]

akbjr- I just love you to death! I copied and pasted that bit about the book from a website where I looked it up because I was too lazy to remember how to spell the authors name!! LOL
And just bless you and your situation. I honestly understand. My husband moved down to Ohio from a house that he had mostly to himself that has 3 outbuildings. All packed solid. His Mom is up there and we have yet to brave going up and clearing it out. My father died last fall (seems like yesterday) and we have to go through the basement and garage at my parent's house for my mother yet. They were Dad's territory and he was an artist and a booklover and a hoarder. We can't get the door all the way open to the garage even, it's so full. We will get brave soon and go in and see what's there to figure out what to do with.

[akbjr]

Pedeka, thanks so much for your response, you sound like someone I'd really like to know! Wow, I really have empathy with you for your situation. When my dad passed away, he had cancer & when he knew how it was going to end, (He was only 57), he gave away his possessions, which were few after 2 divorces, gave up his apartment, & drove to his brother's house in another state, as prearranged. He left us with a few mementos, I have his stamp collection which meant a lot to him, but he really took care of stuff. He had the  motivation. When I think of him giving away his things & making that last drive across country, I can't tell you. That was in 97 & it still is strong. It will seem like yesterday for a long time... My dad was known in his large family for his thriftiness, as an adult, he would give me gifts of books from used book stores that he had hand picked for me. We used to tease him that he wore his t shirts until you could see through them. But, his thriftiness allowed him to work construction seasonally & travel & climb mountains, his real love. He had a rich life due to being thrifty.