Book Sale – Irondale

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Sale, Events, library      No comments

Sep
28

There is a used-book sale this Saturday, September 29th at the Whistle Stop Festival in Irondale. The book sale runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is being held by the Friends of the Irondale Library group. They plan on having a booth set up in front of the library (which is about a block from the railroad tracks). They also will have more tables with books for sale set up inside the library.

I think this might be a great quick little stop this weekend. Especially if you can get there early enough before the tables are picked through. I have not heard any information on prices. But if they stick with what they usually charge you will be looking at 50 cents to $2 per book. Have a good weekend!

Homewood Library Used-Book Sale

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Sale, Events, library      No comments

Aug
8

Grab your helmets and elbow pads, it’s time for the annual Friends Blockbuster Used Book Sale in Homewood! This is always a good sale, with mountains of used-books stacked all around a large room at the Homewood Public Library. There is a special prview night on Friday, August 10th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. but this pre-event is for Friends of the Library members (it’s $5 for an individual membership and $10 for a family. PDF form to join.) only.

The doors do open to the public on the weekend though:

• Saturday, August 11th from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
• Sunday, August 12th from 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

It’s always a good well curated sale and it’s always crowded. Prices usually fall in the $1-$4 range. Though it’s not uncommon to find 50 cent books in the kids sections. While all the good finds go early in the sale, it’s also fun towards the end of the sales as they often start offering “Fill a grocery sack for $5″ kind of deals.

Book Events: July 22nd – July 29th

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Events, library      No comments

Jul
22

Here are three bookish-type events going on this week in the Birmingham-area. If you know of any upcoming author signings, book sales or library events around the Birmingham area, please share via email or in the comments.

July 24th, 6:00 p.m. – Dream Big Family Carnival at the Avondale Public Library

July 25th, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. – Andrea Whitfield signing Felicia Fights Fat With Phone Fitness at Little Professor

July 28th, 10:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. – 2012 Summertime Local Authors Showcase at Hoover Public Library

Great Bookshelf Idea from a Library

Posted by trav in Book Column, Bookshelf, library      No comments

Jul
19

I saw this photo over on Exile Bibliophile (you do follow that site, right? You should) and it I saw so many things in this Parisian library that would improve my home library. Or yours.

First, the lamps. It almost looks like an oops and causes your brain to stutter, but then you realize how many problems these metal half-shades solve. It’s brilliant.

Next up is the curved bookshelf with the counter-height slanted standing desk along the top. While I could not use the curve. I do have the perfect wall downstairs where one of these would do just nicely. That extra top adds some utility and display function to an otherwise boring flat bookshelf top. Very very handy.

Hoover Library Used-Book Store

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Sale, Bookstores, library      1 comment

Jul
17

Here is a quick photo tour of the Friends of the Hoover Library Used-Book Store. It’s located on The Plaza back near the magazines and snack bar and there is another “secret” room downstairs that has $1 books!

They keep carts outside the shop with $1 books. Its always worth looking through as 90% are hardbacks and many are donated (a.k.a. books without library markings/stickers). They have a nice easy to understand pricing system once inside.

Now the Library Used-Book Store keeps an overflow room of used books downstairs along the wall of the community room. All of these books in the “Book Nook” are $1. The turnover here isn’t as high as upstairs so I don’t check on this every visit. But I have found some gems there. So do check often.

To get to the room, go back out to the main library hallway and follow it around towards the non-fiction sections. As you are approaching the “quiet study cubicles” there will be a stairway on the right. Take this downstairs. Once downstairs take a left and you’ll see the room.

Book Art and Recycling Books

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Art, Events, library      No comments

Jul
12

All Summer long the Birmingham Library system has been hosting events that teach you how to make things out of old books. I haven’t been able to make any of the evening courses yet, but they sound kind of fun and there are a few more left.

Friday, July 20th 10:00a-12:00p at the Powderly Branch – learn about “Stamps and Stiches” and use different printing techniques and sewing to create truly unique altered book pieces.

Monday, July 23rd 6:30p-8:30p at the Avondale Branch – learn “Collage and Image Transfers” to add images and depth to your altered book art project.

If you’ve missed all of the other sessions (as I have) look towards the bottom of the library’s blog post where they list a handful of books that they have on the shelves to help you get inspired and started with your own book art project.

Newest Books at the Library

Posted by trav in Birmingham, library, New Releases, On the Web      2 comments

May
24

Here is a great link for folks in the Birmingham-area to bookmark. It’s a handy collection of lists showing you the most recent books, dvd’s, eBooks, audiobooks, etc. available for check out from local libraries. The lists are maintained by the Birmingham Central Library, Hoover Library, Vestavia Library and the Botanical Garden branch.

For the most part they are updated about twice a month. So it’s a good place to check on the 1st and 16th of each month to see if there is something new you’d like to read. Of course, being in the JCLC system, if you see something you like you can always have it requested and shipped to the closest library branch to you.

Rare Print Discovered in Library Book

Posted by trav in Book Collecting, Book Column, Book Talk, library, News, On the TV      1 comment

May
4

I love stories like this… The NY Times published the recent account of a Brown University archivist finding, what is believed to be one of only five copies of a print done by revolutionary heavyweight Paul Revere himself. No doubt the chance of this happening increases if your job is handling books from the 1700′s. But it’s still pretty cool to think that such a unique rarity was just stuck in the back of a book on physics. Revere was quite the engraver and printer, flooding the colonies with pamphlets and political information. He’s certainly not known for any kind of iconic or religious art, which ups the “cool factor” of the find. Be sure to click through to read the article on the library archivist and see the photos.

If nifty old archives of historical significance interest you then you should tune into Book TV (on CSPAN2) this weekend. At noon, on Saturday, they will be touring old bookstores and the Nichols Collection at the University of Oklahoma. They have books going back as far as the 15th century! They also have a History of Science Collection with papers and books from Galileo, Copernicus and other famous people in white lab coats. I think it’ll be fun to watch.

Homewood Library Used-Book Store

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Collecting, Book Sale, Bookstores, library      3 comments

Mar
19

Here is a quick photo tour of the used-book store that is maintained by the Homewood Library’s Friends of the Library Group. It’s located downstairs at the Homewood Library and is open:

• Monday-Friday 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Saturday 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m.

This is by far the best library bookstore to visit if you are looking for magazines. They have shelves and shelves of magazines that I’ve never heard of, plus all of the big popular ones. If magazines and journals are your thing – THIS is the shop you have to visit. Magazines cost ten cents each.

The whole used-bookstore is pretty big, divided among three rooms, with a so-so turnover in the Fiction shelves. Most everything is discarded library books. Though finding donated copies (with no library stickers or stamps) isn’t uncommon. I have seen First Edition books priced at $5 and they do keep a 50 cent table, which is always worth glancing through when you’re at the library.

The first thing to do when you arrive is look down just inside the door. There is a cardboard box there with Free Stuff in it. It’s usually just magazines, maps, photos, etc. but you may find something there. Also, in the magazine room, there is another bookshelf unit and another box with free books and magazines for the taking.

Vestavia Hills Library Used-Book Store

Posted by trav in Birmingham, Book Sale, Bookstores, library      2 comments

Feb
18

Here is a quick photo tour of the Vestavia Hills Friends of the Library used-book store. The Vestavia Hills Library has a new building and with it comes a new bookstore space. While this shop is about a third of the size of the original used-book store, the quality of books found is always high and the volunteers manning the desk are always up for a friendly chat.

One of the main reasons I really like this store is that it has a very high concentration of donated hardcovers. And they are all still $3! That means no library stickers to peel off, stamps, etc. I once found a signed first-edition (with verification crd from the Alabama Booksmith) of Brooks’ The People of the Book and all I had to fork over was $3. That’s the kind of thing that makes digging through bookstores so much fun.

Once you enter the library, the bookstore will be to your left. It’s worth stopping in to see if any other signed gems have slipped through the cracks and made it to the shelves. Their hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday. They are closed Saturday and open on Sundays 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.