Hundreds of Arlingtonians grabbed their backpacks and headed for the Arlington Central Library over the weekend to take advantage of the bargain prices at the semi-annual book sale. Martin Pippin, coordinator of the book sale, said Thursday was for members of the Friends of Arlington Library (FOAL), and 302 people had passed through the door in the first five minutes when it opened at 3 pm.  

The first day attracts many book dealers who come early to snatch up supplies of books and that special rare find. Friday through Sunday was open to the public with a 50 percent discount for teachers and librarians on Friday and Saturday, and 50 percent off for everyone on Sunday.  

Diane Kresh, Arlington Director of Libraries, picked out several books for herself on Friday afternoon including one she had read but liked so much she decided she needed to buy a copy for herself — ”Big Sky” by Kate Atkinson (her guilty pleasure), “Swift River” by Essie Chambers and a puzzle for her wife. “It keeps everyone happy,” she says. 

Mark Aicklein has a backpack already stuffed full of books.  “I was looking for Hegel and I also found some Dr. Seuss books.” Aicklein says he likes the books that have been underlined by a previous reader. ”It makes me feel like I have a companion along, like when you are walking through the forest and find a piece of clothing or a cigarette butt, and you know someone else has been there.” He says it makes you feel less lonely, although he says they always underline the wrong thing. “So I also get a debate.”

Another customer is back at the puzzle and game table. He already has a backpack full including a book on Singapore “because I used to be stationed there when I was a reporter for the Financial Times. He says he comes to all of the library sales and gets most of his books here.

Pippin says he works on the book sale for months in advance getting everything set up. When book sale week approaches the volunteers begin on Monday unloading the 1,500 boxes from the storage area. Then on Tuesday they unload about 700 boxes and stack them in front of the carts. On Wednesday they unpack about 700 boxes which about 40 volunteers put on the shelves with a break from Old Dominion Pizza now and then to keep them going.

According to Pippin, history is one of the most popular categories of the 40 or categories with children’s books not far behind. “We have 12 categories of children’s books including picture books for different ages and interests.” But you can find everything from a 125-year-old Kipling tucked between a whole collection of Kipling books to travel, foreign languages, blank journals, trade and fiction hard backs as well as a table of puzzles.

After each book sale the remainder books are sold or donated and each new book sale starts from ground zero with books donated since the last one. Pippins comments, “There are a lot of books. People really like to read.”