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The mother of all library sales? Not quite, but with an estimated quarter of a million items, most of which were books, the April 26 - 30 Alachua County Friends of the Library Sale in Gainesville, Florida, was definitely one of the biggest in the Southeast this year.
If you want to be first in line at the upcoming October 25 - 29 sale, you might want to ask Louise Marra or Ed and Alma Koster of Alma Koster's books when they plan on arriving. Respectively first, second and third in line, they set up their chairs early Friday for a Saturday morning, April 26, kickoff at 9:00 am. Marra is planning on getting into the book biz soon - what a start! - and the Kosters, friends of Marra, are veteran online booksellers from Satellite Beach, Florida, who list on Abebooks, Alibris and Amazon.
Does it pay to arrive ultra early at one of these mega sales? To some extent, yes. Ron and Noury Buttry of Olde Towne Bookshop in Mount Dora, Florida, arrived at 4:00 am Saturday to set up their chairs and were 14th and 15th in line, just ahead of a bearded gentleman sleeping under newspapers and three campers in a pop-tent.
The Bookologist, who felt that a lack of sleep might be a detriment to inspired buying, arrived at a leisurely 7:00 am and were 67th and 68th in line. A minute or two after the door opened we were in. Not bad for a two-hour wait, though later arrivals, which numbered over 1,000 and snaked through the parking lot and several blocks down Gainesville's historic Main Street didn't fare quite as well. In any case, if we had it to do over again, we wouldn't bother to arrive a minute sooner. With over a hundred thousand books facing you as you darken the door, you won't miss much if a few buyers get in ahead of you.
If you plan on arriving early, the unwritten code of the parking lot states that your chairs or sleeping bag (or tent) can save your spot in line for at least an hour or so provided you post a sign with your name on it. This gives you ample time to take a short nap in the SUV or get your Croissandwich and cup of coffee. Keep in mind that nearby free parking is limited, however, and you might not want to give up your spot. Fee parking was available in several locations for $3.
Book Sale chairman Anne Hemme informed the Bookologist that this is the 48th year they have been setting up. The first year the FOL netted a whopping $204, she said. The first day of Saturday's sale? Over $65,000! Twice-annual sales began in 1989, and remain a hugely popular event for book dealers and book lovers alike.
With these numbers, of course, one needs to be organized, and the Alachua County FOL most definitely was. Dozens of volunteers with clearly printed name tags were present at various stations, including eight regular checkout lanes, a collector's area checkout, and a large-order checkout. Other volunteers were needed to replenish stock (a continuous process which begins shortly after opening), man security posts at the exits, and otherwise keep a lid on what truly is a madhouse event.
A nice feature for book dealers: a large-order holding area is provided for those who accumulate at least five boxes of books and want to continue shopping before checking out. You simply label your boxes with your name and the time you drop them off, and you're given one hour to return, at which time you can go through them to make a final decision on which ones to buy. Books not claimed are immediately returned to stock. Alternatively, if you've been refining your flashpoints and are all but certain of the books you've loaded into your boxes, you may deposit them in the large-order checkout area and leave them indefinitely. No cherry picking allowed here, however.
Speaking of boxes, several minutes before the doors opened, a mountain of free cardboard boxes was deposited in front of the entrance - or should we say launched? - with unbridled enthusiasm by FOL volunteers, perhaps inspired by days of tedious preparation preceding the sale. If you bring your own containers, make sure they don't have wheels or you'll be turned away. The Bookologist could only imagine what sorts of mishaps preceded the introduction of this policy, though it should be pointed out that approximately fifteen minutes into the sale we dropped our full bin of densely-illustrated, coated-paper coffee table books on the toe of a hapless college student in open-toed sandals. Needless to day, wheels would have mitigated things significantly.
The sale itself takes place in a large building called "The Book House." Numerous display tables and bookcases occupy a floor the size of a basketball court, and the books themselves are sorted into several dozen categories.
Of particular interest is a small semi-enclosed collector's area near the front of the building called "The Collector's Area." I spent significant time here browsing through vintage and/or collectible titles priced chiefly in the $10 to $50 range. Prices for most books on the main floor fall into the $.25 to $3 range and appear to consist more of donated books than retired library books.
For those interested in hard numbers, the Bookologist spent $454 on 51 books in two rather intense hours. Projected profits? Perhaps $1,500 plus. In general, books appeared to have been priced to sell. We happened on several print-outs of Abebooks searches tucked into more valuable books in the Collector's Area, which in turn were priced approximately 50% to 70% lower than their online comparables. Quite fair, we think.
On the main floor, pricing seemed more erratic. In some cases striking bargains were to be found; in other cases, similar copies could be acquired online for comparable amounts. Hemme explained that pricing is done on a more or less freestyle basis by volunteers who have expertise or interest in specific areas. Research is hit or miss, so, as it is in so many other venues, you have to rely on your own wits in making buying decisions. Note that deep discounts are offered on the last day of the sale.
Was it worth the trip? The Bookologist's answer is an unequivocal yes. At the October sale, however, we plan to spend more time, perhaps even an extra day, to take advantage of the additional stocking that takes place during the course of the sale and to visit the many used bookstores on and near the campus of the University of Florida.
WARNING: this sale resembles a mosh pit at a rock concert, at least during the opening hours, and the Bookologist does not recommend it for small children or otherwise physically challenged buyers. Be prepared for at least some pushing and shoving, a great deal of reaching in front of you for books you were moments away from picking up yourself, and significant waits in line to pay for your books. Patience will win the day. Last but not least, don't wear sandals!
http://www.afn.org/~afn08597/FOL.html
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