‘Always an adventure.’ How to navigate, prepare for the AAUW Used Book Sale in State College
For the 61st time, the State College branch of the American Association of University Women will sell used books to advance education and equity for women and girls. Last year, the sale made about $141,000 that went toward grants and programs supporting female education.
The fundraiser, which features an estimated 200,000 books, will take place from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday through Monday, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the Penn State Snider Agricultural Arena at 800 E. Park Ave.
Like previous years, 450 people will be allowed in the arena at one time, and signs and maps will be there to help customers navigate the 30 sections of books that range from children’s books to hobbies. The sale also features a special collections area of more expensive titles and a section for CDs and DVDs.
The books will be half price on Monday, and Tuesday will again be “Bag Day,” when customers can fill a bag of books for $8. The sale accepts credit cards, cash and checks, and parking is free.
This year, AAUW State College’s vice president of marketing and communications Connie Schroeder said the sale will feature two new sections: “international” for books written in foreign languages and “Pennsylvania/Penn State” for local publications.
Additionally, Schroeder said the arena map and a customer survey will be available via QR code in the parking lot for shoppers waiting to get into the building.
Knowing how crowded it can get Saturday morning at the sale, Schroeder recommends that customers come on Sunday and on the bargain days because the selection of books is ever-changing, as the volunteers unpack more boxes of books throughout the weekend.
Schroeder has been a member of AAUW for 15 years, and she said she loves the used book sale because it brings the community together and acts as a family event for many.
“We’re giving back to the community with the funds that we raised, so it’s a really nice cycle,” Schroeder said. “It’s a popular event, and I hope that we can do it for many more years.”
Book donations for the next May sale will open on June 13, and those looking to get involved by volunteering or becoming a member of AAUW can visit aauwstatecollege.org.
Tips and tricks from returning customers
Geri Stonebraker, a customer for 10 years and a volunteer for five years, said she always takes a list of books that she’s read and ones she’s looking for so she can navigate the sea of books in the arena.
But the most important thing, Stonebraker said, is for customers to come with their own shopping bags to collect their books.
“People come empty handed, and then they are carrying all these books, and they’re struggling,” Stonebraker said.
The aisles between the tables are narrow, so Schroeder and Stonebraker both wouldn’t recommend large backpacks and bags, but rolling totes and sturdy grocery store-sized bags work best.
For avid readers like Amy Wilson, the book sale is “always an adventure” because of the “extraordinary” variety of genres available each year.
Attending the sale for about 40 years since she was a student at Penn State, Wilson said she’s learned to never walk away from a book she may be interested in.
“If I see something that I think I might want to purchase, I’ll put it in my bag because if I leave it there and then go back for it, it’ll be gone,” Wilson said.
As a volunteer, Wilson said she’s seen customers lose their stacks of books if they put them down, so carrying a bag is essential.
Wilson also said she likes to take her time browsing the sale because it’s “easy to overlook” titles on the tables and in the boxes, and for those spending an ample amount of time shopping, she suggests they eat before coming or bring a snack.
Gina Motter, who’s been attending the sale for about 20 years, said she’ll spend about three hours at a time in the arena filled with people and paper. To navigate the packed building, Motter said people shouldn’t hesitate to ask a volunteer for assistance.
“Some people just must be overwhelmed, especially with the crowds if it’s their first time,” Motter said. “And everybody who greets you there or at the doors, they’re helpful.”
Motter is a retired English teacher, and she used to browse the tables for books she could use in the classroom, and she keeps coming back because “nothing compares to the size of (the sale.)”
“There’s just every subject under the sun,” Motter said.
