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I have over $100 in Barnes & Noble gift cards I can’t get myself to spend. Seriously, I might blow the whole thing on the chocolates or Burt’s Bees products at the register because I am not, repeat, I am not allowed to buy books. The “one comes in one comes out” mantra serves me pretty well, and damnit, times being what there are, those books that are coming in are coming in for pennies. Thankfully, both deaccessioning and procuring are facilitated by our friends (among which is THIH-er historian extraordinaire Robert Pohl) at the Friends of the Southeast Library. As major supporters of the second oldest library in the city, they’re good friends to have. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist that one.)
Mainly, they’re a very grateful bunch, and these days, a little bit of warm fuzzy goes a long way. You are, of course, giving the Friends goods for free on which they can turn a profit. Despite the nickels I’ve “earned” from Capitol Hill Books, Riverby Books and even from my few frocks that have made the cut at Clothes Encounters, I get far more pleasure from seeing the Friends add literary likes to their huge, eclectic assortment that fills much of the library’s basement during each sale. And they take everything, with a smile.
It’s the judginess that’s inherent in any resale business that makes me blanch. Who among us has not been refused by dear Jim Toole, the curmudgeon at Capitol Hill Books? He makes you smile while he tells you your taste for Booker and National Book award winners are far too pedestrian, and Oprah books? You must be kidding, Jonathan Franzen or not. Honestly, I don’t want Jim to take my books. Who knows what avalanche might start in that shop by adding another Pulitzer winner or two.
Each year the Friends give over $10,000 to the Southeast Library, including the $1776 they made last weekend. They played a huge part in the garden renovation, along with the American Library Association and advertisers in the Library Journal for the major renovation four years ago. They have more than 12 sales each year (mark your calendar for the second Saturday of each month) and sell most books for $1, including hardbacks, coffee table tomes, children’s books, dvds and cds, so it’s hard to beat. And this being Washington, you never know what you’ll find. Autographed copies by your favorite and not so favorite politicos, pre-press review copies, cocktail fodder non-fiction (any copies of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother yet, Robert?), and lots and lots of grad school required reading.
The next book sale is March 12. And the blue “drop off” bin on the north side of the building is open 24-7 for “deposits.” They’ll even send you a tax receipt if tell them what you dropped in.