I found a place that I would like to deem a little piece of heaven on Earth. Last night the semi-annual Friends of the Library Book Sale began for the Arlington County Public Library system. I love the library and all of the opportunities that it offers for free to residents of the area. Need a place to use a computer in quiet? Go to the library. Want the newest release? Add your name to the list and pick it up at the library. Want to learn a new language or teach a class? Go to the library, etc. It provides a safe space for kids, adults, the elderly and everyone in between.
Upon arriving at the library last night, I joined the Friends of the Library so that I could have early access to the book sale. I was/am amazed by the organization of the entire event because there were so many people and so many books. I looked around and thought ‘This is what heaven looks like.’
I went in with the intention to only search for the six Jodi Picoult books that I am missing and To Kill a Mockingbird. But we all know what happens when a book enthusiast walks into a massive book sale…. they go a little crazy! Now I only left with 11 books – There were people there with boxes upon boxes of books. There were metal moving carts to help these people take the books around the crowded area and out to their cars. I thought I had come prepared with my single canvas tote so that I could pick up the books that I wanted. MAN OH MAN, I was unprepared for this experience. But I loved it. I was amazed by the vast piles of books that covered the garage of the library. There were countless customers with their piles/boxes/carts of books and incredible volunteers restocking the sale as the books were picked up.
The sale goes from Thursday (yesterday) through Sunday — Chances are (and boyfriend willing) I will be heading back one more time to see what other goodies I can find. I wanted to expand my tastes in books more, but I pretty much stuck with books that I had seen before or authors that I had read before.
I purchased two books, Ghost Wars and The Unknown Darkness, by two authors I had never heard of before. But I have always been interested in crime/terrorism books, so when I saw them I knew I needed to add them to my tiny bag.
Books I Purchased:
- State of Fear by Michael Crichton ($0.50)
- Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan ($4.00)
- Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan and Bin Laden by Steve Coll ($2.00)
- The Unknown Darkness by Gregg O. McCrary ($2.00)
- Kill Shot by Vince Flynn ($0.50)
- Transfer of Power by Vince Flynn ($0.50)
- Separation of Power by Vince Flynn ($0.50)
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ($0.50)
- The Pact by Jodi Picoult ($0.50) ** Honestly, I’ve read this one before… but I didn’t own it and it was only $0.50 so I couldn’t walk away without it.
- Room by Emma Donoghue ($0.50)
- Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple ($0.50)
Total: $12
Have you read any of the books that I bought?
Have you ever been to a library sale like this one? What are your best sale shopping experiences?
Arguably Alexis 