What do your books tell others about you?
I've been a book gatherer most of my life. One time, in a move, I got rid of boxes of books because I had no choice. Much of my fiction, and a lot of mysteries, including all my Christies, which I felt sure I could always find in a public library.
But I kept buying books...mostly mysteries, but I also have a lot of reference books, humor, history, books on movies and the theatre, volumes on theology, spirituality and feminism. But my mother did ask me once, “Do you have any novels where someone isn't murdered?”
Today, we began preparing for the semi-annual library book sale. We opened and unpacked boxes and boxes of books. There were some books withdrawn from the library collection, but most were gifts from patrons.
Sometimes there are huge collections as a book collector passes away or moves to retirement quarters in Arizona or Florida. Some of these can be quite interesting.
There were dozens and dozen from one source. They included Bibles, books on pastoring, spiritual guides, etc. There were also at least 40 books about weight loss or how women shouldn't be judged by their weight and appearance and lots of cook books.
I surmised that someone was eating a lot while she read her Bible. Then there were political books which said to me that this overweight religious woman was also a member of the Tea Party.
Then someone else collected hard cover fiction books in the romance and romantic suspense genres. There were complete runs of Janet Evanovich (mysteries and romances), Catherine Coulter, Nora Roberts (and all the paperback J.D. Robb), plus a few other prolific writers. Here was someone with a romantic bent.
Also in the donations were about 15 old Nancy Drew books. They were the editions that come out in the 30s and 40s. Had someone saved her old copies, or were they passed down to younger members of the family? That's what I did with mine and I was sure of getting at least two Nancy Drews for Christmas and at least one more for my birthday.
Those were the days when public libraries seldom carried them or the Hardy Boys because they weren't “literary” enough.
There were also a lot of “classics” printed in the early 1900s. Not in good enough shape to be collectible, however.
If you don't attend you public library's book sale, you are missing a chance to pick up some great items at a bargain price and help your library raise money to buy the new books you want to read.
A lot of people come in and take a bag or box full and return them for the next book sale. No pesky overdue fines that way.
Besides books, there are also magazines (which we ask people NOT to bring, but they do) and DVDs, VC tapes, 78 and 45 records as well as LPs. And there are tapes, including some 8 tracks once in awhile and CDs.
The one job I hated as a librarian was “weeding” the collection, especially fiction. And getting rid of my books will be even harder, but I think that it would be a kindness to get rid of at least half of them so my brother won't be faced with the task. He'll just have hundreds instead of thousands with which to contend.
Check with your local libraries to see when they are having a book sale, or if you are in the vicinity of Fostoria, Ohio come Thursday, Friday and Saturday for out book sale. They will be a buck a bag next Monday. You can always Google Fostoria to see where it is.
Recent Comments