LUCY BURDETTE: You know how devoted I am to the Friends of the Key West Library--in fact it turns out our first book sale is this weekend. It also turns out that our friend Ellen Byron feels the same way about her California library. I'll let her tell it...
ELLEN BYRON: On the last Saturday of every month, this sign goes up outside my local library branch in Studio City, and I do a happy dance.
When you’re a passionate reader like I am and a collector of a specific genre— in my case, the vintage cookbooks that inspired my Vintage Cookbook Mystery series—there are few things in life more thrilling than the vast array of affordably priced books available at a Friends of the Library book sales. I make sure to hit the ones hosted at New Orleans’ Milton Latter Library whenever I’m in town. And every month I’m available, I show up to the sale at our local branch of the famed Los Angeles Public Library system.
As a regular patron, I’ve established a pattern. First, of course, I check out the Cookbooks section, where I’ve scored some incredible finds, all for the incredibly low price of a dollar for hardcovers and fifty cents for paperbacks.
My favorite find is a 1928 edition of Photoplay’s Cook Book [sic] of the Stars. Film fans know that 1928 was a pivotal year in the industry, marking the transition from silent movies to talkies. This is reflected in the cookbook itself, featuring recipes from silent stars to those who survived the seminal change like Greta Garbo and Gary Cooper. (BTW, the odds of the stars actually supplying the recipe are minimal. I’m sure they were “cooked” up by studio publicists.)
Once I’ve thoroughly perused cookbooks, I move on to the mysteries section, which the Friends of the Studio City Library separate into two categories, Paperback Mysteries and Mysteries and Suspense, which are hardcovers. I love searching for my friends’ books, which I photograph, buy, and mail to them.
After working my way through the mysteries, I travel to the travel section (see what I did there, wink wink?), after which I scope out Crafts. I’m an avid needlepointer and have found great needlework books at the sale. I also check out Nonfiction and the special section where items are incrementally more expensive.
Here’s my haul from this past Saturday’s sale: A 1949 cookbook I’ll keep for myself, plus two or three to use as giveaways (I’m on the fence about the Paris Café cookbook. It’s so cool!) There’s a hiking guide I picked up in the Travel section and a collection of walks in Paris from the Special Section that set me back a whopping two dollars.
Over the years, I’ve befriended many of the volunteers, making the monthly event even more special. I’m incredibly grateful to them for their commitment to the sale and to our library branch. So grateful, in fact, that this is the dedication in Crescent City Christmas Chaos, my fourth Vintage Cookbook Mystery:
Readers, do you have a Friends of the Library sale in your neighborhood and do you occasionally pay it a visit? Comment to be entered in a giveaway for a Kindle edition of Crescent City Christmas Chaos.
SYNOPSIS:
Have yourself a merry little . . . murder?
Ricki James-Diaz gets the best present ever when her parents arrive in New Orleans for the holidays. Not only is it a chance to catch up, it’s also an opportunity to jog her mom Josepha’s memory about Ricki’s adoption. The details have always been shrouded in mystery. And Ricki understands why when she learns her mother was blackmailed for years, simply for not wanting to lose her precious daughter.
But digging into the past soon lands the James-Diaz clan in water hotter than a big pot of gumbo! When the woman who extorted Ricki’s mom is found dead at her home, Josepha becomes the primary suspect. Now Ricki has another murder to solve, and tracking down a killer in Crescent City is going to take a miracle.
Luckily, ‘tis the season! And Ricki has all the staff at the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum on hand to help. Can she prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas?
ORDER NOW:
Crescent City Christmas Chaos a book by Ellen Byron - Bookshop.org US
BIO:
Ellen is a bestselling author, Anthony nominee, and recipient of multiple Agatha and Lefty awards for her Cajun Country Mysteries, Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Catering Hall Mysteries (as Maria DiRico), and Golden Motel Mysteries. She is also an award-winning playwright and non-award-winning writer of TV hits like Wings, Just Shoot Me, and Fairly OddParents, but considers her most impressive achievement working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart. Visit her at http://www.ellenbyron.com/.
Our local library occasionally puts books out for sale, but nothing like the huge effort Ellen has described. Still, I do look and I do buy books when I can . . . .
ReplyDeleteAny sale is a good one for me!
DeleteThe English-American Library here in Nice had a big sale in October that I missed. But there’s always a section of paperbacks for sale for €1 and cookbooks, too.
ReplyDeleteI’m still wrapping my mind around the fact you live in Nice. Lucky yoi’
DeleteYou!
DeleteMe too!
DeleteLike Ellen I have favorite libraries. Right over the state line is the Fryeburg Maine Public Library. It's an old stone school with huge character. MaryAnn Eastman and her group create fun evens. When I'm out doing bookie things and picking up bling, I always bring some home to them. Oh, and Ellen I borrowed your shilling word.
ReplyDeleteThat library sounds beautiful. And I give you permission to use my word, lol!
DeleteThe Rochester (MN) Public Library has periodic Friends of the Library sales and it also has a bookstore with regular hours right at the library. I donated a lot of books there over the years and purchased some as well.
ReplyDeleteThe closest branch of the Marion County Public Library to me here in Ocala had a tiny space for the Friends to sell books just inside the entrance. It is currently undergoing a building expansion that is going to more than double the overall space and the Friends’ bookstore will have an entire room. The name of my branch is Freedom Library which I just love.
I love it too, Brenda!
DeleteGreat book haul, Ellen, and congratulations on the new book! I love that series. The Friends of the Library in my town have a bookstore open in the library's basement whenever the library is open, and I frequently pop down there to browse. The prices are similar to those at your monthly sales.
ReplyDeleteMy happy dance today is because Edith Maxwell says she loves my series!
DeleteNice book haul. I'm still new to the area, so haven't seen any notices thus far.
ReplyDeleteI’ve given you something new to explore in your new neighborhood!
DeleteCongrats on the Christmas book, Ellen! I just may need a dose of New Orleans--murder and all--to get me in the Christmas spirit. Our local library is part of a two-library system (ours and the next town down the road). The Friends of the Library group has a room in the basement of the other library that is periodically open for sales, once a quarter, I think. Both libraries have a kiosk with books for sale. Ours does extremely well--we restock it regularly and the Friends' president is always happy when she empties the money box.
ReplyDeleteI love knowing the sale does well. It means people are still reading!
DeleteHi Ellen,
ReplyDeleteI am a reader of your books. I particularly liked the plantation series and the way you concluded it. I have also enjoyed your author on line interviews.
I work in a library and we have a big book sale about once a year and an ongoing one in our lobby.
Our patrons are very generous with their donations to the extent that our deposit bins for them are very often overflowing and we have to stop until the volunteers who handle them are able to process everything that has come in. In addition to books, we frequently receive CDs and even LP records. These are very popular among serious music collectors since the LP recordings are often rare, vintage performances
We also receive many reviewers’ copies of books which means they are essentially brand new.
This time of year is even more popular because people are looking for gift possibilities and we usually have some specials set aside for the holidays. They may include things like multi volume sets
or subjects that are of particular interest (such as cookbooks)
Children’s books are always in high demand
I’m so thrilled you like my books! And my library also sells DVDs and even some CDs. And the children’s section is also the most popular. Happy to see parents raising readers!
DeleteI am so pleased to see library book sales getting so much love! Here's another perspective on them. I have had the pleasure of working at the Friends of Worthington Libraries Book Sale many times. It is a well-established longtime success, generating close to $30,000 for the library annually. That is only possible because of a group of very hardworking volunteers who I love and admire.
ReplyDeleteThis sale has become such a big thing that it truly has a life of its own. Of course, it is used to sell books that the library has culled from its permanent collection, but like many other libraries it also accepts donated books. SO MANY donated books! The sale is held quarterly, and there is a small room (oversized closet, really -- maybe the size of the average laundry room?) dedicated to holding the donated books. It becomes full to overflowing! So much so, indeed, that they also have a permanent ongoing Friends Book Sale area in the entry area to the library to help move a little inventory in between the big sales. Occasionally the volume of books grows so quickly that we run a one day "pop-up" sale just to clear some out.
A cadre of dedicated, hardworking volunteers manages the inflow of those donated books every week, sorting them into boxes by genre. Then at the quarterly sales, volunteers set up tables in the largest meeting room at the library and those boxes of books, sorted by genre, get carried in there by volunteers. (This is a bit of a problem, sometimes, as those volunteers aren't getting any younger!)
The first evening of the sale (Thursday)is open to Friends of the Library only. But many book collectors have become aware of the amazing deals to be had and paid the small fee for a Friends membership in order to be able to shop on that first night. It is absolute mayhem and, if I'm honest, the one shift of the sale that I prefer not to work unless I'm really needed. That first, Friends Only portion brings in a large part of the revenue for the entire sale.
After that, the sale runs all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I mainly work those, and it is just as delightful from the checkout side as it is from the patron's side. Everyone is in a good mood at a book sale, and always in awe at the bargains they are finding. They are very patient as we add up their purchase in our heads and double check each other's math. MANY buyers choose to round up their purchase to whatever size bill they are handing us. (We never suggest it -- they just do it.) Then the librarians step in and determine whether any of the remaining books are just not marketable and those are shipped to a recycling company, while any good inventory is returned to the storeroom. The tables are put away and the room returned to its meeting room set up.
Susan, on behalf of us library sale fans, thank you so much for volunteering. Your description makes me want to grab a flight to Worthington!
DeleteOur library has an ongoing book sale in the lobby of the building. I try hard to stay away from it, just as I try really hard not to go to dog adoption events. I want to come home with all of them!
ReplyDeleteDebRo
Deb, I’m a hundred percent with you on dog adoptions!
DeletePlease don't enter me into the contest as I don't read on e-readers.
ReplyDeleteHowever, that won't stop me from answering today's question. And that is a resounding YES!
I certainly do attend the book sales when my local library, the Wareham Free Library, holds them. They generally hold them March through October with a special one-day book sale in December. That one day sale is actually tomorrow! YAAAY!
I peruse the mysteries both paperback and hardcover first. I also check out the fantasy/science fiction section. And they have a separate rack by the checkout table for books that are relatively recent. Those cost up to 5 bucks. But when the book started out at 28 - 30 bucks, it is still a pretty damn good deal.
After I check out those, I usually check out the DVD section where I find some deals. Unopened full seasons of TV shows are always a great find.
I also check out the general fiction bins because sometimes you find stuff that should've been in the mystery section so I don't want to miss out on something.
Since I go often enough (sometimes stopping by each of the three days the sale is held during regular months), most of the volunteers (almost exclusively older women) know me and I end up chatting. And when other people at the sale ask for recommendations for mysteries, I've been pointed out as someone to ask.
Occasionally I go to book sales at the libraries for the two towns in order next to mine. Marion and Mattapoisett. I've found great stuff there. The biggest scores were a signed Ian Rankin and an older printed version of some Sherlock Holmes collection.
Sometimes I buy stuff for other people. I found a copy of a bunch of the Father Brown stories so I bought that for a friend that enjoys the series on TV (the one with the guy who played the Weasley Dad in the Harry Potter movies). Or found some DVDs of movies based on golden age mysteries for someone else.
At $1 buck for hardcovers and trade paperbacks and 50 cents for mass market paperbacks, it is a great way to find stuff you want to read or didn't know you wanted to read but now have to read or life will never be as fulfilling as it should be for you. HA!
Jay, this is fantastic. I had no idea this link existed. Have a great time at your sale tomorrow!
DeleteI have not seen a library sale at the Ligonier Library - but I might have missed it. But the Oakmont Carnegie Library held them regularly. The Hubby liked to wait for the last day and go to the "stuff a bag for $5" special. But I had to rein things in - we ran out of shelf space!
ReplyDeleteOh man, can I relate on running out of space. I donated 7 boxes of books to our sale - and then refilled our shelves twice over!
DeleteELLEN: Hi!!!! Before the pandemic, I used to volunteer at Friends of the Library sales two to three times a year. I helped set up the books. So many donations. I discovered many wonderful new to me novels like the children's books by Amy Ephron (Hallie's sister). It was 50 cents per book, though now I think it is now a dollar per book.
ReplyDeleteLove cookbooks. I already have 40 cookbooks, including a homemade cookbook put together by parents and teachers at my pre-school (the program for Deaf children)
Since I already ordered the ebook of your Christmas Vintage Cookbook mystery novel, I want to opt out of the giveaway.
On another note, I wanted to ask you if you know if they still want book donations for libraries since the LA fires? Please let me know.
Diana, thanks so much for already having my book. And that’s a wonderful question re: the LA fires. I honestly don’t know. I would guess yes but I should look into it.
DeleteThe Ridgefield Library in Ridgefield, CT has a great annual sale. Weather permitting, the entire front lawn of the library is filled with treasures. Best of all, we get to donate all those books we no longer need and other people get to read them. They also have a great bookclub which I attend called "Murder by the Book."
ReplyDeleteI love Ridgefield! I love all of CT. My fam had a house on Bantam Lake for 35 years. Gerri, tell your book club I'm happy to Zoom in sometime!
DeleteAt a library book sale a few years ago, I saw a book by Jane Casey, and I almost allowed someone else to buy it, knowing I owned a copy. Then I picked it up and saw my name inside it, and realized the nice friend I had lent it to when she was recovering from surgery must have given it away instead of returning it to me. Coincidentally, I was going to see her that very afternoon. I repurchased *my* book and in the half hour drive to her house I mastered my annoyance and simply vowed not to lend her anything again. A good friend is hard to find. I guess!
ReplyDeleteYou’re a good person, CLM. I’d have been muy ticked off.
DeleteCLM, I am incredibly impressed by your self-control. Talk about a bad book move!
DeleteHi, Ellen, what a fun topic today! I love shopping used book sales, especially back when I was traveling by car a lot, harking back to yesterday's discussion. There are always audiobooks for a fraction of their original price, although we now no longer have a car with a CD player.
ReplyDeleteThe Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library's Friends of the Public Library maintains an entire warehouse of used library and donated books, and they are open to the public three days a week. My own community also manages two used book sales on behalf of the Public Library, once in early summer and again in the fall, held at the local middle school. As well as books (including rare and first edition volumes), they also sell puzzles, music, movies, and other media like magazines. Everything is sorted onto tables by topic, with great signage you can see from across the room.
On the last day of one of the sales they have a "fill the bag" deal for a nominal price, from which I have acquired new books for my Little Free Library. We are really lucky in Cincinnati to have one of the best library systems in the US.
An entire WAREHOUSE???! Get the smelling salts, I feel faint!
DeleteHere's the info, in case any local folks are interested:
Deletehttps://www.cincylibraryfriends.org/
Our library has a big sale once a month, but also has a room where books are for sale continuously. My other sources include the shelves of available books on our cruise ships where people drop off books after reading them rather than having them take up space in their luggage. We also have one of those take it or leave it library boxes at the entrance to our YMCA where I always find interesting treasures. We also love church book sales on Cape Cod during the summer. They are more expensive than the library sales, but it goes for a good cause! Happy Hunting!
ReplyDeleteThe cruise ship shelves are new to me. What a great idea. Happy hunting indeed!
DeleteOh, Ellen, you've hit one of my soft spots! I adore library book sales and also church white elephant book sales, another great place to spot hard-to-find and forgotten gems.
ReplyDeleteMad respect for the Friends of the Library volunteers who organize and run these events. We used to have an annual book sale at the Very Small Library when I was on the board, and the amount of work, both physical and organizational, that it took was phenomenal. It was a three day event, and as Karen mentions, on the last day it was "fill a paper grocery bag" for something like $3. I think in the last hours we were GIVING them away so as to avoid hoisting and packing the remainders!
The librarian eventually found a local online seller who would pick up donated books weekly (we used to have to haul all of them up to the attic and then down again!), sell them online, and give us a percentage. Not nearly as much fun, but the savings in time, effort and storage made it well worthwhile.
We still have a "Leave a book, take a book" shelf there, though!
Julia, you are so right in giving a shout-out to the intrepid volunteers manning these sales. They work SO hard. The first hour of our sale is filled with booksellers combing the tables for books they can snag and sell for more money. Unlike your local seller, they keep the profits for themselves. Grrr!
DeleteHi Ellen! So nice to see you here today. My mom raised my sister and I to go to the library and to library book sales. When we moved last year, we culled a lot of books and donated them to our local branch library. We are lucky to have a dedicated room for a Friends of the Library store. I used to shop there to find children’s books to add to my school library’s collection.
ReplyDelete(On a personal note, thanks for sharing the location of the praline store in New Orleans. My husband and I both loved the ones I bought!) — Pat S
Pat, I'm so glad!!! Peeps, if you're ever in NOLA and want a great praline, check out Leah's or Southern Candymakers. (Sidebar to the book talk, lol.)
DeleteThere is an organization, Better World Books, that our library uses for withdrawn books.
ReplyDeleteThe library puts the books in cartons and then we contact the company for them to pick them up.
I don’t know much about them other then they are a charitable for profit company.
They have an online site with detailed information about who they are and the charitable services-they provide. People can use the site to purchase discounted books online.
The library has been using them for many years and it is an alternative to throwing away books that are in good condition since for some legal reason we are not able to donate them for our book sale
I never heard of this company. How interesting.
DeleteOccasionally I buy from Better World Books. One of the things I love most about them is that they donate a book for every book you buy from them.
DeleteThe Phoenix Public library branch that I use, Ironwood, always has shelves and tables of books and CDs, near the entrance. hardcovers $1, paperbacks 50 cents. I usually do a quick browse and sometimes score, more often kids books than anything else.
Love the vintage cookbook series, obvy. Also, love library book sales! Can't wait to snag this holiday mystery - I love your work, as you know.
ReplyDeleteJenn!!! Thank you! I love yours back! xoxo
DeleteWe just had our bi-annual sale. Not only do I go, but I volunteer to work at it! It is so much fun to look for treasures!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your service to our book sales, lol!
DeleteHi, Ellen! Always so nice to see you here! Love the vintage cookbooks--in fact I think I have the pasta sauce one, which I guess makes me vintage as well! Congrats on the new book--I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteLOL, thank you, Deborah. I can't wait for the next Duncan & Jemma!
DeleteThe 3 counties in the Portland Metro area have actual bookstores for used books. The Multnomah County bookstore is in a beautiful old Carnegie library building. The Washington County library has their bookstore in a charming older home and the Clackamas County stores are in several locations. These bookstores support their various county libraries.
ReplyDeleteThese all sound wonderful. Oregon doing things right, as usual!
DeleteOur library has a monthly three day sale. In fact, one started today! I always check out what's on offer. We're a small-ish community so sometimes it's pretty slim pickin's, but what the heck. There is also a permanent area in the library where the books are on sale year round. And finally, there is frequently a cart with books that are free for the taking.
ReplyDeleteWe have a cart where free books are put out, too. I've found some great cookbooks there.
DeleteThe two libraries in my area have book sales a couple times a year. It's so much fun to look through and it's exciting to find a book I've always wanted to read. I especially like finding older books that you know are no longer available in libraries or to purchase.
ReplyDeleteYes! That's why I love scoring old cookbooks. People ignore them and I snap them up.
DeleteHi, ELLEN! So happy to see you here... your new book looks adorable, can't wait to read it. My local Milton Library has a v ery active Friends group (shout out to President Connie Spiros!) and a used bookshop where I'm one of the volunteers. Hardbacks for a buck. Amazing kids' section. And thousands of dollars go directly to the library to support books and services. I LOVE getting to be the first to paw through the day's donations and the enoying the calming orderliness of the shelves.
ReplyDeleteHALLIE! I miss you. I love that you volunteer at used bookshop. Lucky you, that you get first crack at donations. I feel like I'm always elbowing booksellers out of the way at our sales. I do love seeing parents in the children's section with their kids. Amen to all those still raising readers in this day and age.
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