Thousands of books on sale at George Mason Library this weekend
If you’d would like to curl up with a novel, plan a
vacation, try some new recipes, or learn something new in just about any
subject, the used book sale going on now
through the weekend at the George Mason Regional Library has what you need, and
much, much more.
There are enough books (plus CDs and audiobooks) to fill 1,570 boxes, says Mary Zimmerman, president of Friends of the Friends of the George Mason Regional Library, which organizes two semi-annual used book sales. There is everything from cookbooks to mysteries, audiobooks to travel guides.
The book sale is open today 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10
a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 9:30-5 p.m.
George Mason Friends depends on attracting lots of people to
the book sale so it can generate enough revenue to fund programs for the
library that the county’s budget can no longer support, but getting the word
out about the book sale has been increasingly challenging.
the book sale so it can generate enough revenue to fund programs for the
library that the county’s budget can no longer support, but getting the word
out about the book sale has been increasingly challenging.
The Friends group used to advertise the sale in the
Washington Post’s Book World, which is no longer published. “The loss of Book
World is a terrible tragedy,” Zimmerman says. “Everybody in Annandale knows
about the book sale, but there has seen a decreasing number of people from outside the
Annandale area.
Ninety-percent of the proceeds from the book sales go back to
the library, Zimmerman says. The George Mason Friends group spends $42,500 a
year for the summer children’s reading program; purchased furniture for the
staff’s break room; provided special floor padding behind the desks for the
librarians who have to stand up all day; and plans to buy new chairs for the
children’s and adults’ reading areas.
the library, Zimmerman says. The George Mason Friends group spends $42,500 a
year for the summer children’s reading program; purchased furniture for the
staff’s break room; provided special floor padding behind the desks for the
librarians who have to stand up all day; and plans to buy new chairs for the
children’s and adults’ reading areas.
The Friends also bought a shed and supplies for a gardening
group that landscapes library grounds, supports the after-school program
at the Woodrow Wilson Library in Bailey’s Crossroads, supports George Mason
University’s annual Fall for the Book festival, and last year spent $20,000
for countywide training for library employees.
group that landscapes library grounds, supports the after-school program
at the Woodrow Wilson Library in Bailey’s Crossroads, supports George Mason
University’s annual Fall for the Book festival, and last year spent $20,000
for countywide training for library employees.
All of the books on sale are donated. Library patrons have
been dropping off books in a bin in the library lobby all year long, and volunteers have been sorting the books as they come in, pricing them, and
packing them away until it’s time for the sale.
Sometimes, they find a rare gem. Two years ago, someone
donated a gorgeous book of Korean prints, which was sold for $1,200, Zimmerman says. A rare
first-edition of The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy sold for $200
donated a gorgeous book of Korean prints, which was sold for $1,200, Zimmerman says. A rare
first-edition of The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy sold for $200
Zimmerman, a history teacher at Northern Virginia Community College, keeps an eye out for exceptional history books. About three years ago,
the library received a first edition of Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Virginia. Had
it been in decent condition, it would have been worth $20,000 to $25,000. “But
it was in terrible condition, literally in tatters,” she recalls, so it only
fetched $500. Another rare find was a 12-volume history of the United States
with an overlooked signature of the author, Theodore Roosevelt, in the first
volume. That book sold for $200.
the library received a first edition of Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Virginia. Had
it been in decent condition, it would have been worth $20,000 to $25,000. “But
it was in terrible condition, literally in tatters,” she recalls, so it only
fetched $500. Another rare find was a 12-volume history of the United States
with an overlooked signature of the author, Theodore Roosevelt, in the first
volume. That book sold for $200.
“When we started, we didn’t know what we were doing,” Zimmerman
says. When a first-edition of Richard Nixon’s book, Six Crises, was donated, “we
didn’t know what to charge, so we asked for $6—$1 per crisis,” she says. A
local autograph collector bought it and got Nixon to sign it. “He said he liked
our pricing, so he sold it for $600—$100 per crisis.”
says. When a first-edition of Richard Nixon’s book, Six Crises, was donated, “we
didn’t know what to charge, so we asked for $6—$1 per crisis,” she says. A
local autograph collector bought it and got Nixon to sign it. “He said he liked
our pricing, so he sold it for $600—$100 per crisis.”
Among this year’s high-priced books are Incidents of Travel
in Central America, published in 1842, for $100; a three-volume set on the
artist Frans Hals ($70); Coinage and Money in the Byzantine Empire ($75); and Buster Bear’s Twins from 1923 signed by the author, Thornton Burgess ($50).
in Central America, published in 1842, for $100; a three-volume set on the
artist Frans Hals ($70); Coinage and Money in the Byzantine Empire ($75); and Buster Bear’s Twins from 1923 signed by the author, Thornton Burgess ($50).
The vast majority of books are way cheaper and are in good
condition. In general, paperbacks are about $1, hardcovers are $3 to $5 (art
books are likely to be a bit more), and DVDs are $2 to $4. Everything will be
half price on Sunday.
condition. In general, paperbacks are about $1, hardcovers are $3 to $5 (art
books are likely to be a bit more), and DVDs are $2 to $4. Everything will be
half price on Sunday.
Books that can’t be sold are donated to schools or
charitable organizations in D.C. and Virginia, Zimmerman says. “We get more
dictionaries than we can sell,” so they, along with textbooks, are given to Washington,
D.C., schools. Copies of popular books—such as novels by Stephen King and David
Baldacci, for example—are given to Fairfax County’s central library department
to replace beat-up books in local libraries.
charitable organizations in D.C. and Virginia, Zimmerman says. “We get more
dictionaries than we can sell,” so they, along with textbooks, are given to Washington,
D.C., schools. Copies of popular books—such as novels by Stephen King and David
Baldacci, for example—are given to Fairfax County’s central library department
to replace beat-up books in local libraries.
The George Mason Friends started in 1974, after a friend on the
county’s library board asked Zimmerman to help raise $40 for honoraria to bring
four ballerinas from the Washington Ballet to give a talk at the
library. So Zimmerman helped start a used book sale, and has been doing it ever
since. “It took on a life of its own,” she says.
county’s library board asked Zimmerman to help raise $40 for honoraria to bring
four ballerinas from the Washington Ballet to give a talk at the
library. So Zimmerman helped start a used book sale, and has been doing it ever
since. “It took on a life of its own,” she says.
One response to “Thousands of books on sale at George Mason Library this weekend”
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I went on Thursday, the parking lot was completely full. I got some great books for the kids.