Hidden Treasures

library sales mean great book finds

There are few things that bring me greater joy than stumbling upon a book sale.

When I was in Chicago in October for a hockey tournament, I was tooling around looking for a little free library where I could place the banned book that I’d brought with me.

Sidebar: I made a pledge last June to place one new copy of a banned book in a free library, once a month for a year. December’s book, November’s book, October’s book, September’s book, August’s book, July’s book, and June’s book.

Did you know that there’s an app called Little Free Library that helps you locate a little free library near you? It’s been oh so handy when I travel and try and place banned books.

Anyhow, as I was leaving the little free library I’d selected in Chicago, I noticed a sign that the local public library was having a book sale. I had an hour until my son’s game , so I raced over to the Arlington Heights Memorial Library and found the most magical library and book sale.

My photos don’t do it justice.

I purchased a copy of Edward Carrey’s The Swallowed Man, which I’d formerly borrowed from the library, but I wanted to own a copy.

Click here to listen to me interview Edward Carrey on episode #112 of Books Are My People.

But the real treasure was this collection of Metropolitan Miniatures.

Are you a Book Of The Month Club member? I have been for the last five years or so. I don’t end up purchasing a book each month because they’re not always books I want to read, but they make them so affordable, it’s hard to resist. Anyhow, this Metropolitan Miniatures collection was published by Book of the Month back in the 50’s and served as a monthly book club for art lovers.

Each folio contains a miniature 30-60 page booklet that focuses on a particular artist or artistic movement.

The people working the sale were so excited I was taking them home they brought out the BIG cart:

A few weeks later two big boxes arrived at my home in Los Angeles where these miniatures will be well-loved for years to come. As an artist and book lover, this collection is just perfect for my home library.

Do you collect things? Do you go to book / library sales? Where do you find them?

So far, I’ve found this website that tracks library sales: https://www.booksalefinder.com/CAN.html

If you have good book hunting websites, share below!

As a gift to you in the new year, now through January 31st I’m offering 20% off full-year subscriptions!