Library Fun

Each year, an organization called the Friends of the Library holds a book sale at the state fairgrounds in order to help raise money for the Oklahoma City Metro Library System. It allows them to clear shelf space, unload duplicate editions or duplicate donations, publicize the city library and make a couple of bucks into the bargain.

Some things you need to know if you attend:

1. Hardcovers and paperbacks are in separate sections. Hardbacks cost a buck, paperbacks 50 cents. Trying to negotiate a price down because a book is not in the greatest shape or lacks a dust jacket only holds up the people in line behind you. The Collector's Corner room has more variation, but still -- is trying to dicker a $3.00 book down in price worth the frustration of being told "No" every time you open your mouth? Since the clerks and such are all volunteers, having to be the ones to tell you "No" is probably not worth their time.

2. A scan up and down the table shows that there are definitely reasons why people didn't want to keep some of these books.

3. If the kids are old enough to run around on their own they probably will. I'm no parent, but I bet saying "Stay with Mommy" probably loses its effectiveness when Mommy is doing something as boring as walking very slowly next to a table too tall for you to see over and doing that inexplicable adult thing of looking at books that sadly lack pictures.

4. To those minding your own business on your own two feet: Some people brought rolling suitcases (or two-wheeled handtrucks stacked with milk crates) so they could get a lot of books and how dare you think that you can just stand there taking up no more space than God gave you instead of contorting yourself so they can shove past you?

5. And further, how dare you think that they, or the people whose large backpacks swing across the narrow aisles every time they turn, should think of saying "Excuse me?" You some kind of Emily Post or somethin'?

But if you manage to find one of those elusive titles on your list -- in my case, another Robert B. Parker in the smaller, book club-sized hardcovers -- that helps make up for several of your squashed toes and backpack-thumped scapulae.