Book Sale Treasures

In the past month, I've visited four used book sales. The fall book sale season is officially over. Now I can only dream of spring - or tackle my towering stack of books.

I know I'm possibly unbalanced, but I can hardly think of a more fun entertainment than visiting a good used book sale. I hate shopping, despise the mall, and don't get excited about yard sales. But give me a couple tables full of musty books, and I'm thrilled. And if it is a large well organized book sale and I can get there to stand in line before the doors open, that is true bliss!

This year I went to nine book sales. That number includes visits to the book shelves at the Goodwill. I visited more sales than normal this year mostly because my children are now old enough to go with me. As much as I like book sales, I couldn't justify getting a babysitter for every book sale. The children are learning that book sales are real treats. They will usually find a book to look at and crawl under a table out of the way until mom is finished shopping.

Most of the book sales I visited several hours, or even days, after opening. The best books do leave in the first hour but what I think is best may differ from another and I still manage to find some treasures. Some sales have such crowds that I would never attempt to take my children with me in the first hour. If you are looking for book sales in your area, I give hints here.

Are book sales worthwhile? If you are a bookaholic, I would say "YES!" We have been able to stock our family library very inexpensively thanks to book sales. This year at used book sales I bought 211 books and spent $123.70. That comes to 59 cents a book. I call that a bargain. Children's picture books and classics are easy to find at used book sales. I've also found many books to supplement our homeschool.

You could look at our loaded bookshelves and argue that we don't NEED any more books. And you would be correct, more books are not a necessity for living. But how else can you get hours of entertainment from just over a $100.00?

Sometimes I pick up a book that I don't know much about, and when reading it at home, decide it isn't worth keeping. Other times I don't remember if we own a particular book. And sometimes I pick up books on purpose that I know I have but can share with others. Many of these extra books I swap on Paperback Swap for credit to order free books. If you love books, and don't do Paperback Swap, you are missing a great source of cheap books. I am constantly amazed at the great books I can order from Paperback Swap. It just takes patience to wait for the book you want to become available.

Do you visit used book sales? Please someone tell me I'm not the only book obsessed person!