Books At A Bargain
Hundreds Flock To Library’s 30th Annual Book SaleBy Kristen Johnson, kajohnson@post-journal.com
Article Photos
They came by the hundreds.
They came from Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties and from as far away as Alaska.
They came dragging rolling suitcases behind them, cavernous bags slung over their shoulders and crumpled lists in hand, hoping to find that one item that'd make the entire trip worthwhile.
They came specifically for the James Prendergast Library's 30th annual book sale.
Just before 11 a.m. Friday morning, a crowd that was several hundred people strong waited patiently in a line that stretched from the main door of the James Prendergast Library to the sidewalk, down Cherry Street to the corner, down Sixth Street to Washington Street, and along the Washington Street sidewalk.
'''Wow' is right,'' said Catherine Way, the library's executive director. ''This is the longest line we've ever had.''
This year, the book sale featured more than 40,000 books. The sale ran until 9 p.m. Friday and will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. A bag sale - $5 per grocery bag - will run from 2-5 p.m. today.
''What are they looking for? Anything and everything,'' Way said. ''You name it. People come with lists of things they want to buy and lists of things they've already read - sometimes right down to the title and author. It's absolutely incredible to see this much interest. This is a witness to the fact that people still love books. There's not a parking space to be found and people are still coming.''
Library workers and dozens of community volunteers spent Thursday preparing the library for the book sale. Table after table filled the library's main floor. Books were stacked everywhere - even on the floor - and, as early as 11:30 a.m. Friday, piles were rapidly shrinking.
That's good news, Way said. She said the annual book sale is the library's most important fundraiser.
See BOOK SALE, Page A-3
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The money raised is used to purchase new books and magazines and keep the library's databases updated. Library officials hope to raise $30,000 from this year's sale, Way said.
''We rely on this book sale,'' she said. ''It's a very important fundraiser for us. We honestly couldn't do it without the enormous amount of support we receive from this community each year. People donate books to us, help us set up for the sale and come in to buy books.''
The library has been busier than ever since the economic downturn began, Way said. She said as the economy worsens, libraries become more popular - and not only for the special services many of them offer.
''It's historically true that in bad economic times, libraries become more popular,'' she said. ''Books are free entertainment for people.''
Each year, the book sale draws people from all over the area - and this year, it drew one person from the other end of the country.
''This is a great book sale,'' said Alaska resident Rich Nurse as he balanced an armload of books on his hip. ''I'm visiting some friends in Erie and heard about this book sale. People out there said it was one of the best, so I thought I'd come check it out.''
Nurse said he'd gone to a recent book sale at an Erie, Pa. library, but it ''wasn't nearly as nice'' as the Prendergast Library's book sale.
''This one is especially good because people in the community donate their books, so you get a much better variety than you would if you were just browsing through librarian discards,'' he said. ''This is great. I'm happy I made it out here.''
Bemus Point resident Mary Dominick is a veteran of the library's annual book sale. She's attended for at least the last 15 years and said this year's line was ''honestly the longest I have ever seen.''
''I always plan on coming to the book sale,'' she said. ''I come to the library very frequently and I've been seeing signs for the last couple of months. I understand that it draws book dealers from hundreds of miles away - and I can't blame them for coming.''
Dominick said she finds the book sale ideal for finding Father's Day gifts, since the sale always precedes the holiday.
''I love it that the sale attracts people of all ages,'' she said. ''If you look hard enough, you can always walk away with something special. Myself, I usually fill two or three large bags and end up having to make trips to the car in between bags.''
Sheila Snock, a Silver Creek resident who has attended the book sale for the last six or seven years, struggled down one of the paperback book aisles at the back of the library. Lugging a large blue Ikea bag that more resembled a tarp with handles than a bag, she estimated she had already found between 30 and 40 books to purchase.
''And I'm nowhere near done,'' she said with a laugh. ''My husband is around here somewhere with my spare bag. I always come prepared - you definitely need the extra-strong Ikea bag.''
Snock said she purchases books to share with her mother and said the book sale's prices are ''unbeatable.''
''Even if you've already read a book, the price here is so cheap that not having it on your shelf is just wrong,'' she said.
The annual book sale even draws local celebrities such as Vivian and Lula Taylor, who said they spent 30 minutes waiting in line Friday morning.
''We were all the way back by Washington Street,'' Vivian said. ''I'm never that far back. But it was worth it - we like to come in early. To me, it's more than a chance to buy great books - you also get the chance to meet up with your old friends and spend time talking to them in line.''
Jonah Hanlon, 8, was at the book sale Friday morning with his mother and siblings, pawing through the children's books in search of interesting non-fiction books, anything and everything Star Wars and books from the Junie B. Jones series.
''They're really funny,'' he said. ''And I'm a big Star Wars fan. This sale is pretty cool.''
