Observations at a Library Book Sale

Yesterday, the Seattle Public Library held their biannual Library Book Sale at Magnuson Park. This time, my coworker Jessica and I were veterans, having attended last fall. I had wavered about attending, because really, do I need more books? But it only happens twice a year, and it seemed like a fun thing to do and it’s supporting the local library, so we made our preparations.

Having learned last year that competitive book sale shopping is extremely difficult to do once one’s bladder is about to burst, I made sure to go to the bathroom three times. I left my coat at home and tried to wear light weight clothing, I wore running shoes, I did stretches and clipped my fingernails (safety first). Jessica and I were ready earlier than last year, hopped into the car with our bags and eagerly discussed strategies on attacking the room and whether there would be many people lining up before the doors opened, or we would be one of the few groups of lucky anticipators.

We were wrong. The line – at 8.45 – stretched about five hundred people back, around the front of the building and we sheepishly stood in line. It was a quick line, though, and just after 9, we were quickly shuffling towards the welcomingly open doors that held a mixture of heaven and jungle fever. We split off immediately, clutching our bags with purpose, Jessica to the paperback room (where one has to wait in another line, as it only allow 48 people in the room at a time) and I to attack the classic literature section. I left dazedly an hour and a half later.

Observations I made:

1. Expect a queue, respect the queue

2. You may accidentally touch many people and be touched yourself in the course of extreme book buying, but this is outside the realm of ordinary social intercourse and as such, is allowable and forgivable. For example, I stood up into a woman’s butt. I’m not sure if she noticed.

3. Do not be alarmed by losing consciousness and coming to on the floor with a pile of books in your arms.

4. You may squat.

5. Hoarding is allowed and to be expected.

6. There is understood respect for boxes, always ask the person closest to you if it is their box on the floor – if not, dig ahead. If yes, apologize politely and run away to fresher quarry.

7. People who bring their babies in their prams to book sales are idiots. Not only because they obstruct the flow of traffic, but because I have a suspicion that the room could easily become a little Lord of the Flies, and at any time hungry book zombies could turn on infants.

8. Always arm yourself with as many “excuse me’s” and “Pardon me’s” as you can. It becomes a sort of continuous mantra, like an auctioneer.

9. Reaching is not rude. Grabbing is understood. You might never find such a bargain again.

10. No matter how much you pee before going to the Library Book Sale, you will need the bathroom badly by the time you leave.

In conclusion, it was a very successful morning at Magnuson Park. I only spent $35 for 35 books. This includes a complete volume of e.e. cummings’ poetry and various other books I had been hankering for (84 Charing Cross Road, Parnassus on Wheels, book by Halldor Laxness, books by Byatt and Murdoch and Bowen, complete poems of John Betjeman). Erin and Jessica, friends and coworkers, had success and later showed me their lovely new hardbacks, NYRBS and Europa editions. I drove my books home, immediately catalogued them, ran around the room skipping, giggling, and then flopped on the floor to look at them again. If only I had a place to put them.