One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

This weekend, April 25th and 26th, the Friends of the Superior Public Library will put on their annual Book Sale.  The Friends spend all year preparing for this 2 day sale, sorting and pricing the many books, CDs, music, and art that will be for sale. Most of the items come from the generous donations of our patrons.  Every so often a person will come in with bags and boxes full of books or movies.  "I need to clean this stuff out.  I don't have the room for it anymore."  I will usually see that same person at the sale with bags and boxes full of new acquisitions. They will go home, read their "new" books, watch their "new" movies, and re-donate them.  But in among all the "new" stuff they will find a new favorite that will stay on their shelf. It will become a permanent member of their collection, and will be treasured.


The first book I ever purchased for myself was a library bound copy of Sir Walter Scott's 'Ivanhoe".  It was purchased at Cathedral School's Mardi Gras, which still takes place every year.  Back then they had a White Elephant room with donated items for sale.  There were always lots of books.  It had a plain red cover-didn't look like much. But the binding was sewn and it had beautiful copperplate illustrations.  I treasured it. I was so sad when our basement flooded and everything in the bookcase was ruined.

I have a whole series of etiquette books that have been purchased second-hand.  The oldest one is from 1877. I keep these in the new bookcase upstairs.

                                                                                                                   
(The etiquette books hold a weird fascination for me.  They give a look at the mores of a society that has gone through a lot of changes.  Some have beautiful illustrations:

One has an unusual section about dating married men:)

 And who knew there would be art work at the  book sale? A few years ago I picked up 2 beautiful watercolors at one of the library's sale for $2.00 a piece, had them re-framed, and hung them in the kitchen.

If you are having a fit of uncluttering the library takes donations all year round.  It's not too late to donate for this year's sale.  And after you make all that room, stop by and refill those empty shelves.  You never know what new treasures you'll find.