Ah, it is once again my favorite time here at the University of Maryland: The History Department sells off all their old books for $2 a hardcover, $1 a paperback. It’s a great way to fill up my collection of classics I’ve not yet gotten. Especially once they get to day 2 or 3, and want to dump as many unwanted books as possible, and things move down to half-price, maybe even half-again. At that point, I just buy pretty hardcovers for the 50 cents just for the look of a hardcover on the shelf.
They couldn’t even bring out the full selection of today’s inventory, due to weather, so they’ll have much more out tomorrow. I can throw away $20 at this thing without a second thought. Today it was only $5 on three books:
Mark Twain’s Complete Short Stories
Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray (which I was about to buy new at the campus bookstore last week, if only I could have found a copy)
Lucretius On the Nature of Things
I’m definitely heading back tomorrow for more. Apparantly people come from miles around when the literature-laden boxes come out. Anybody else at universities take advantage of similar booksales?
The bookstore in one of the libraries here at the University of Florida is having a 10 books for 10 dollars sale this week. Hardcover, paperbacks, whatever. Everything for a dollar; provided you can find 10 books you want.
I found five books I wanted and tried to convince the girl there to let me have the stack for five, but she wouldn’t bite. So I had to (sigh) pick out five more books.
Nothing spectacular, but I did pick up a 43-year-old two-volume set called “The Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior.” I figure it should be good for a chuckle or two. The publisher’s notice at the front says: “It is the intent of the publishers to limit the distribution of this book to adults with a professional or scholarly interest in its subject, such as physicians, jurists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists, marriage counselors, educators, clergymen, lawyers, and other community leaders who are called upon for guidance and help.”
No mention of Johnny Bravos. I feel quite devious.
Man, I’m jealous. The school library had a used book sale a few weeks ago, and I was only able to find four books, the best being Caesar’s war commentaries. Four books at a used book sale? I couldn’t believe it.
On the other hand, the public library’s used book sale is much better :). But on the gripping hand, I missed it this year :(.