“Not everyone who owns a lot of books is a book collector.  Granted.  I wear pants most days, and own many pairs, yet don’t think of myself as a pants connoisseur.  Book collectors are the same way.  A book collection has a purpose beyond accumulating, beyond, even, reading.  A book collection has a purpose.  What should the focus be?  That’s the beauty of it.”

I like people who group their books in some logical or at least interesting fashion. I REALLY like people who dive deep into a category or genre or author. Those are always great conversationalists. And indeed. That is the beauty of it.

First, Vestavia Hills library has shut down as they are moving to their new building (slated to open in early-November) so they are toting books outside to a tent and selling what they can. It’s being organized by volunteers, so they start selling sometime between 9a-10a and stop sometime around 6p. It all depends on their help. But be prepared to stay. There is no organization. So a child’s book will be stacked on a business book sitting next to a computer programming text book. But if you love to sort through new and dusty books. This is for you. They bring out new boxes every couple of hours, so the selection changes.

Ex-library books (hardback and paperback) are $.50. Donated hardbacks are $1 and donated paperbacks are $.50. Magazines are $.10. You can also pay $5 and fit as much as you can into a grocery sack.

The sale started yesterday and runs through all of next week.

Second, is the Whistle Stop Festival, out in Irondale. The library, has been culling their collection and taking donations for weeks and is setting up tables alongside the usual festival fair, from 9a-4p. I have not heard of the prices yet, but if they follow their usual price schedule, hardbacks will be a dollar and paperbacks will be $.50. Traditionally, they have not made a distinction between donated and ex-library.

Third, this weekend 2nd & Charles (which BBJ mentioned earlier this week) is supposed to open Saturday morning. The Books-A-Million crew had an invite-only preview party last night. I didn’t get to go, but have seen some photos. It’s in a vacated Goody’s department store and is massive. Very cool looking, too. I haven’t seen prices yet, but they will be buying books, cd’s, dvd’s, videogames, etc. all day, every day too. Hopefully they will make their open date.

I have fun this weekend and do tell about any loot you score!

Hardbacks and textbooks are $5 and mass/trade paperbacks are $2. I’ve had Goldstone’s Used and Rare for quite some time, but have never bought the next two in the series. So I was quite pleased to find a great copy of Slightly Chipped, which I was able to walk out after literally counting out pennies. It’s the kind of serendipitous find that will set your day back upright!

It’s just the one shelf right now, but I am told that turn over is high. So I’ll be checking back to see what’s new.

Also, I want to mention that the Alabama Bloggers group is getting together for lunch this upcoming Friday, August 27 at 11:30a at The Red Cat. If you’re downtown stop by and say “Hi”. If you’ve never been, don’t be shy, this will be my first meeting too.

1. Friday Night – Preview Sale with Wine and Cheese – 5p-8p – $5 admission :: All hardbacks are $1 and all paperbacks are .50 cents.

2. Saturday – The Book Sale – 9a-4p – Free Admission :: Same price as above, but they have a special “Stuff a Sack” sale planned for 2p-4p which lets you walk out with as many books as you can cram in half a sack for $5 or a full sack for $8.

I have no idea what they’re raising money for, but there is not much that is as fun as cramming as many books into a sack as you can for $8. Though $1 hardbacks comes awfully close.

The library’s hours are 9a-6p, on Saturday and 1p-5p, on Sunday.

Happy book hunting!