It’s a State College tradition that brings book fans running from near and far. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Used Book Sale begins this weekend. Planning has been underway since last June, and all the effort and volunteer hours will finally yield results.
The annual sale offers more than 250,000 donated books over a four-day period at Penn State’s Agricultural Arena near the corner of E. Park Ave. and Fox Hollow Rd.
“We have a lot of books,” joked State College AAUW co-president Charlene Harrison. “In the past, we’ve had upwards of 8,000 visitors over the four-day sale.”
The sale will run from Saturday, May 11 through Tuesday, May 14 this year from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will have full price selections, Monday is half price day, and Tuesday is “bag day” which means customers can bring a reusable grocery bag and fill it with books for $5.
“We’re sure hoping that we continue the good sales of previous years,” said Harrison. “After we remove the costs associated with having the sale, there’s enough left for our scholarship program, but most of it goes to fund local nonprofit organizations like the Schlow Library.”
The books, all collected from the community, will be sorted into 32 different categories, from sports to mathematics.
“It’s an incredible effort to handle that many books throughout the year but there have been some marvelous beneficiaries,” said Harrison. “What we’re able to do with the proceeds is pretty great.”
Nancy DuWalle, who has overseen and coordinated the book sale for six years, says that some people get in line in the middle of the night just to get the first crack at the books. Volunteers hand out numbers at 6:30 a.m. so people can leave the line and come back when the doors open up.
“People come all the way from Ohio, New York, and Virginia,” said DuWalle. “Every year it’s different but it’s always exciting. It’s fun once we get started.”
The book sale, currently in its 52nd year, is an annual part of Mother’s Day weekend for many families.
“That’s the best part of Mother’s Day weekend for some,” said DuWalle. “They get to go our sale.”
Click HERE or more information on the AAUW Book Sale.
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