By Alison R., Teen Portal Staff Writer
Calling all bibliophiles! Do you hoard books? Hide them in your closet? Simply can’t live without a stash in every part of your house?
Okay; I’m joking, but some people (like me) do love books! And even if you don’t, they make nice gifts, can sometimes be sold for a little extra cash and even provide great material for art projects. If you need a book (or lots) soon but don’t have the money to shell out at a book store, then here’s a quick look at some places where you’re practically guaranteed to find free or very cheap books any time of the year.
First stop: Your school or public library. Libraries are constantly getting rid of items that are supposedly outdated, old and unpopular. But this doesn’t mean that you won’t like any of them – a lot of things they “withdraw” were once very popular and are still relevant and entertaining. These “discarded” carts are usually at the front or the exit. At Central Library, you may find a treasure trove of books if you hit the giveaway shelves at the right time. You'll find these shelves if you take the elevator in the library foyer to G(arage)2. Exit the elevator, and the bookshelves are always filled with free, donated and withdrawn books. At any of these library collections, the keen eye can find the best tomes easily by simply skimming the titles and picking out the most interesting books. These books are always free!
Some libraries also have used books sales, including the public library of your own Arlington County! These books are always super cheap and sometimes free! The next big sale is from Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26 at Central Library (10 am-6 pm Friday and Saturday; noon-6 pm on Sunday, half-price day). Tip: Books not sold at the end of the sale will be placed on the G2 parking garage shelves.
Second stop: Yard sales. This is a very logical place to look for books, particularly those more likely to be recent or popular. They can be found any time from the spring to the fall in good weather. Some neighborhoods (such as Cherrydale in North Arlington) organize yearly “community” yard sales, and the Civitan Club of Arlington also sponsors community garage sales at the parking lot built over I-66 (right next to the Ed. Center and W-L on N. Quincy St.) on the first Saturday of every month from April to November. These books are always supercheap!
Third stop: Online! eBay and Amazon.com (and Craigslist, to some extent) have used book “departments” where you can find loads of books categorized by genre and sub-genre and ranging from singles at 55¢ to first-edition-hardback-autographed-sets topping $100. As long as you’re not afraid of bidding or online shopping (and have a credit card available), you’ll probably find what you’re looking for here. These books range from nearly free to just cheap (and beyond)!
Fourth stop: Other hidden places. Look around for local businesses that have informal book donations tables, where you can drop off unwanted books and take those you want for about a dollar (on an honor system), to help them reach money-raising goals. One example I’ve found is the Safeway on Lee Hwy. (near the intersection with Quincy St./Military Rd.). Faith-based organizations are also good places to look: they house free clothing centers that often also have free books. Check out the Church at Clarendon. (You can volunteer at these centers and ask to take some things home as well). Churches also often host small seminaries or theology centers that sometimes have their own library book sales, such as the John Leland Center. These books range from free to cheap!
Happy hunting!
