Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

'tis the season....spring is around the corner, and that means one thing: BOOK SALES!!! Check with your local library for when they will be having their next book sale, you can get some insane deals, and the money raised by these sales are used to benfit the Library.

Also, with spring on the way, it's time to get a early start on the spring cleaning...when you are dusting your bookshelf, check for any books you don't want any more...consider donating them to your Library for their sale, my bet is you can get a tax write-off, but then I'm no CPA, so don't mention my name if you get a call from the IRS for claiming $273 deduction for a stack of dog-earred Stephen King paperbacks....

I love buying books from the library, some of my favourite books have been bought cheap there! but my nearest one hasn't got any on sale at the moment :(

don't forget you're local Goodwill and Salvation Army thrift stores...they allow ways have books that have been donated for sale, and the money goes for a good cause.

Yeah, that's a sound idea. I don't think I have ever bought a book at a library though–I never go there anymore. Sometimes I buy my books at independent book stores, or, and apologies in advance, Amazon.

Well libraries dont really stock the kind of books I like to read so i mostly get my new books off the net.

i once got a BIG box of ace doubles at a library sale...never know what you will find...

goto Google and put "Book Sale Finder" into the search engine....you should find listed a website by that name that is a search engine for book sales large and small (some up to a million books)...most of these sales are put on by non-profits doing good work, and some of the sales are outstanding

Deeptanshu wrote: "Well libraries dont really stock the kind of books I like to read so i mostly get my new books off the net."

really? I worked in our county library for 20 years and was always amazed at the verity that we had. Everything from graphic novels to car and sex manuals. You might tr talking to the Librarian about an inter- library loan and see if they can get what you want from larger system. We were always sending out books to smaller libraries for their patrons.

our local library told me they don't have the budget for intra-library loan...so I have to buy ALL my books on-line

what I can't find there I mean (small-town library)

Spooky1947 wrote: "our local library told me they don't have the budget for intra-library loan...so I have to buy ALL my books on-line"

I'm sorry to hear that. When you live where there is a large system. Ours is county wide with 13 branches, Including 4 in small towns, you forget everyone does not have that luxury. One of he reasons libraries need more support.

"Interlibrary loans are a wonder of the world and a glory of civilization."
    - Mori (Among Others)

Spooky1947 wrote: "our local library told me they don't have the budget for intra-library loan...so I have to buy ALL my books on-line"

That's tough. I was under the impression that there was a federal grant that waived that fee. I think it's like $35 per transaction.

My "county" library system (one branch) has it, and I'm pretty sure its paid for by the federal and state governments.

Here the state covers the cost of shipping for the Inter-library Loans. Until recently they even paid employees at the larger systems to pull and prepare the books for transport. Because of budget cuts the systems now have to cover that cost. Last I know our was using volunteers to do that now. Was ask when I retired if i would be interested in helping but, at the time, was not physically able. Volunteering is another way to support your library. They make a huge difference in costs.

Been to a couple of good library sales this Summer...lots of goodies. :D

Happy happy, joy joy. A group of Churches here (we seem to have a church on every street corner here down south) have opened a thrift store and they have a small book section (maybe 1,000 books or so). It's seeing a big turnover as they sell them for $4 for a big paper bag full. I've been making twice weekly raids on it, and am amassing a huge war chest of trade material. I even occasionally find some goodies worth keeping (just yesterday I caught them putting up new stock and got a ton of anthologies ed. by MZ Bradley). It's a pretty uneven selection tho, lots of religious stuff, politics, self-help, and books that frankly should be trashed due to poor condition. But it's fun to poke about, and a true joy when I find some "keepers". I'm planning a road trip now to use up some of the traders I'm amassing. The cash the store raises goes to a local food bank and other programs, so it's a good deal all around.

Congrats!

:D

Spooky1947 wrote: " I caught them putting up new stock and got a ton of anthologies ed. by MZ Bradley..."

Is there still a market for old MZB books these day? see here.

not sure...I paid $4 for a big bag with about 20 or so MZB, and other stuff besides...it was mostly her S&S anthologies. Still $4 for 20, that's not much of a market....

Good haul!

My husband and I were at a library book sale a couple of weeks ago. I found a few things of mild interest but did I really want to use the space? His reaction was the same, and we wound up buying nothing. We have reached the point when we prize empty bookshelf space - not that we have very much - more than most books deals.

Responsible book owners. Who would have thought?
;)

Sarah wrote: "My husband and I were at a library book sale a couple of weeks ago. I found a few things of mild interest but did I really want to use the space? His reaction was the same, and we wound up buying n..."

As someone with somewhat of a fire hazard phobia,that is another thing that is soooo great about eReaders and eBooks,is we can have hundreds and hundreds of books/a library of books on one small device!I have over 800 books on my Kindle Touch,and most were freebies.
Which sad to say,were much better quality back in 2011-2012 when I first got my Kindle, very few of the ridiculous 'booklets' of less than 200 pgs for one thing.

Sarah wrote: "We have reached the point when we prize empty bookshelf space - not that we have very much - more than most books deals."

What is 'empty bookshelf space'? lol
80% of my book collection is electronic now, and I still need more bookcases for the books my husband and I already have!

That's the problem, Natalie. I don't now.

C. wrote: "As someone with somewhat of a fire hazard phobia,that is another thing that is soooo great about eReaders and eBooks,is we can have hundreds and hundreds of books..."

How attitudes change! Back in the late 60s/early 70s every British Con would end with Pete Weston or Rog Peyton (big Fan Names in those days, still around last time I checked) auctioning piles of assorted F/SF/Comics under the generic catch-phrase "Radiation Protection". The audience were very much aware of the Cold War! Now they are "Fire Hazard"! Such is the pace of social/technological change!

Alan, great story!! Can I steal it for that SF history I'm going to buckle down and write one day?

I'm back from my 2ed trip to Chattanooga in 2 months, and of course I hit ALL the bookstores I could find (no library sales, alas)...I've now got about 300 previously owned books that need new shelf-space, and I have none...my X-Mas present to myself will be to move my library from the spare bedroom to the master bedroom and add new shelf space...a two month job at least...and I have yet another trip to Chattanooga yet to go...I need to stay out of the bookstores, but that's like telling a turtle to stay out of his shell...

Spooky1947 wrote: "Alan, great story!! Can I steal it for that SF history I'm going to buckle down and write one day?..."

No problem so far as I am concerned, but best check the details - try contacting the Birmingham SF group (BSFG) - they are on the web, and people there will have more up-to-date details (and possibly more complete memories) than me. You may even get a contact with those two names, both were alive and active at the time of my last contact with the group, about 5 years ago (which was at a funeral, so I'm sorry, we are talking about that age group!)

it's that time of year again....unfortunately, I won't be able to go to the big sale in Greenville, SC this year (first time in 3 years I've missed it...car has to go into the shop)...if you find yourself in Greenville this weekend (I think it's this weekend) check it out....

On the good side, the local library is having a book sale this Saturday (tomorrow) starting at 9AM sharp....25 cents a pop...at the very least I hope to find some good traders to drag to the used book sellers, if I'm lucky I'll find a few for my personal collection...several years ago I went to a book sale at this library and walked away with a big bag full of Ace Doubles (the 2-in-1 paperbacks) for like $15...I doubt I'll get that lucky again, but hope springs eternal....

When I lived in Portland I went to the library twice every week, sometimes I borrowed sometimes I bought. There were always a bunch of hobos in there, but I was happy to see them because most of them were reading and unobtrusive. Multnomah County Library has been improving with their librarian programme and all. The city's also got Powell's, so if you find yourself in Portland check them out!

I just checked this thread for the first time today, looked up the book sale finder page, found out one of the local libraries started a book sale today. If only I wasn't so broke.

check the sofa for loose change...you'd be surprised how far a few quarters will go at some of these sales

Well, I don't generally buy books from the library...I donate them. As I replace a lot of my sci/fi & fantasy books with ebooks I donate the paper copies for this reason. Or, sometimes I find duplicates in my shelves. I've no idea what book fairy is doing that!

by-the-by, a little bird (at booksalefinder.com ) tells me there will be a big (100k books) sale in Greenville, SC put on by the Friends of the Library next month...my brother lives in Greenville and i have been to some of the sales there...they know how to hold a sale!!