Sweet deals at Swedish Days
One hundred fifty-eight dollars and counting.
Considering most of the books at the annual Swedish Days used book sale at the Geneva Library were priced from 50 cents to $3, that tells you how big a pile one patron was accumulating in a holding area.
By 6:20 p.m., at least 198 people had entered the sale room, which opened at 5 p.m. They dragged big tote bags, cardboard boxes and stacks of books on dollies up to the cash-out table.
"This is my first time," said Pat Pittman of Batavia, as she hauled off $42 worth of Christian books, including Bibles and commentaries, for her church (First Christian of Aurora) to ship to a Christian college in the Philippines.
The Friends of the Geneva Library had strong teenage volunteers help people carry their purchases up the stairs to the exit, since the library's elevator is broken.
"I need stronger arms," said shopper Fred Bazzoli of St. Charles, perusing the tables and shelves covered in books, with more boxes underneath. He had lined up at 8 a.m. to get an entrance pass, which were doled out at 9 a.m. He was No. 8.
"This is just a great sale. The volunteers here are wonderful," he said.
One of those volunteers has been doing this for about 50 years, since he was a Cub Scout and the sale was held on a lawn outside. "Where it does get crazy is Saturday at noon. That's where it really gets nuts," said Paul Conterato of Geneva.
That's when the $5-for-all-you-can-fit-in-a-paper-grocery-bag sale begins.
Besides books, there were puzzles, videos, audiobooks, curriculum materials for home-schoolers. There were steamy novels by Danielle Steel and Sidney Sheldon, automotive manuals, even a 1970 edition of "Star Quarterbacks of the NFL" (do you remember who Craig Morton, Joe Kapp, Greg Cook and Daryle Lamonica were?)
The sale continues from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the library, 127 James St.
Proceeds support the summer and winter reading programs, the Library Link newsletter, the Celebrate the Season winter holiday program and purchase and refurbishment of furniture and equipment.