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The Honolulu Advertiser
Ready ... set ... buy books! | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Saturday, July 9, 2005

Ready ... set ... buy books!

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Books Editor

Irmgard Hormann, 87, stocks the shelves for the Friends of the Library's annual book sale that starts today. Buyers are advised to show up with a game plan.

Jeff Widener | The Honolulu Advertiser

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FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF HAWAII BOOKSALE
When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16

Where: McKinley High School cafeteria, off Pensacola between Beretania and Kapi'olani

Free admission

536-4174

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CAROL SCHAAFSMA
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FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF HAWAII BOOKSALEWhen: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16 Where: McKinley High School cafeteria, off Pensacola between Beretania and Kapi'olani Free admission 536-4174
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By 10 this morning, you'll be too late: The line will already be half a block long, waiting for the doors to open for the 58th annual Friends of the Library of Hawaii Booksale.

More than 100,000 books (plus CDs, videos, DVDs, records and books on tape) change hands during the sale; 50,000 or more are on the selling floor at any given time.

If you're headed that way, you'd better have a game plan. Carol Schaafsma, a retired University of Hawai'i librarian and now a year-round book-sorting volunteer, offered these tips:

  • Dress for coolness and comfort and bring a bottle of water; the room can be insufferably warm.

  • Bring something in which to cart or carry your books.

  • It's OK to bring small carts, but Schaafsma warns that you trade mobility for carrying power. She says one volunteer jokes that a lot of babies have learned to walk at the sale because they had to give up their strollers to books.

  • If you get overburdened, you can pay for your purchases and stash them in will-call, then return to shopping.

  • The fastest-moving categories are Hawaiiana and cookbooks. If you're interested in those, be ready early.

  • Bring cash (but checks are also taken). Prices begin at a dime; most items are under $5 except for collectible books.

  • Volunteers refresh supplies as space opens up. Usually, everything's out by Wednesday or Thursday.

  • Take advantage of sale days: Monday, fiction and records half-price. Tuesday, age 60 and older receive a 25 percent discount. Wednesday, members get 50 percent off. Thursday, 25 percent off with library card. Friday, all items half-price. Saturday, all items 50 cents except paperbacks, two for 50 cents.

  • Members of McKinley's Gear Up group will be selling food and drink as a fundraiser to help them take Mainland trips to look over colleges.

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