Anne's Law - Book Sales

As I was saying, the Little City Book Sale has confirmed in my mind the need for some ground rules at these events. Because I am old and cranky. Book Sales are very crowded, so the Spirit of the Law is to do your best to stay out of other people’s way. Respect personal space. Keep it moving along. To be specific:


1. Be aware of what is going on around you. You’re supposed to be browsing, not losing yourself in a book. That’s why they don’t have cushy chairs. If you want to stop and chat with your friends, step outside the aisles. Or better yet, go to Starbucks.

2. Keep your stuff with you at all times. Don’t put your pile of books down on the other books such that the rest of us can’t tell which you are setting aside to buy, and can’t see the books that are for sale. Don’t set your bag down on the table and for the love of Dickens don’t leave your drink lying around, either. We don’t want to touch your stuff. We don’t want it in our way, either.

3. This goes double if you are using a cart. I am not a fan of shopping carts at books sales, but I know how many people are seriously filling them up. God Bless. But seriously, anyone with a cart is taking up three times as much space as the average person. That makes it three times as likely that you and your stuff are in the way. Keep it with you all the time. Anyone who leaves their cart in the middle of the aisle and walks away to browse should be required to relinquish custody of said cart and wear a dunce cap for the remainder of the day.

4. Hygiene is important. Sometimes we really are jammed in there like cattle, so don’t be the stinky kid in class. By that I mean body odor, perfume, cigarette smoke and you would not believe the stench of hair care products these days.

5. It is absolutely ok to be slow. To browse the books. To read the back of every last one. Just be aware of what is going on around you. Can you take a step to one side or another to let someone by? And if someone is parked in front of you, go around. The books don’t have to be right in front of your face to see the titles. And if you need to reach across someone, just say “Excuse me.”

6. We all know the extra books are in boxes under the table. We have all found some gems down there. If you are pulling up books because there is room on the table; well, heck you are doing the volunteers a favor. But if you are in high traffic with your head under the tarp and your butt in the air, you are not going to be aware of what is going on around you.

7. I am very sorry to say this, but the big book sales are no place for children. Seriously. I was at the Little City sale for 90 minutes and didn’t hit close to 100% of the tables. And I am quick. Even if you have really well-behaved kids, 90 minutes on their feet in a tent is too much to ask anyone under 10. And even a 10 year old would have to be pretty committed to the Cause of Reading to stand it. I saw a woman yelling at her 4-year old: “Will you be quiet?! We are looking at books!!” No, lady. You are looking at books. The kid is stuck in the cart looking at this warehouse of a tent.

8. Be careful with the books. Just because you don’t want it doesn’t mean that no one will. Don’t jam them in so the pages bend. Don’t drop them on a different table because you have changed your mind. Don’t leave your iced coffee so the condensation causes water damage. (Yeah, I’m bitter about that one.)

9. Don’t argue with the staff. At Little City and the library sales, these are volunteers raising money for charity. If you think they have made a mistake, just ask politely. If you don’t like the answer, you don’t buy the book. Don’t be a pain.

10. Bring your own bags. First, they take up less space while you are shopping than baskets. Second, if it is a charity book sale, either the bags cost them money or they have a limited supply that volunteers have scavenged from their own homes. And third. You know, go green.

I don’t want to sound like I don’t want you there. I do. Really. I like to know that other people appreciate books. I like that Little City and my library and other charities are raising funds this way. If there wasn’t a crowd, there’s something wrong with the business model and they might just all quit and that would suck.

But please. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.