There isn’t a lot going on in Ithaca, admittedly, but we’vegot a few cool places and events. The Farmers’ Market ispretty charming; Porchfest is dope; Indian Creek Farm isa blooming bit of hippy heaven (although I think that’s technically in Trumansburg). But my favorite special feature of life in Ithaca is the Friends of the Tompkins County Library Book Sale. The Sale happens only biannually, but dedicated volunteers work all-year round to welcome donations, sort items into hundreds of unique categories, and organize books. (The system by which the books are organized—alphabetical order, the Dewey Decimal system, the Library of Congress system—is a major point of contention for the librarians.) Last week I talked with long-time Book Sale volunteer Dr.Anna Levina. (Another distinctive feature of life in Ithaca: the volunteers tend to be active scholars, historians, research scientists,and other kinds of erudite people in possession of multiple degrees.) In answer to the question of what she thinks IHS students should know about the event, Dr Levina noted that the wide variety of items makes the Sale appealing to everyone. “I’m sure everything at some point will come through the book sale. It’s like the Atlanta Airport of books. You get to see the items that you might not actually see in bookstores or libraries. You get to discover new authors.”And why volunteer at the Sale? “We’re all book nerds here so you get to hang out among your friends.” Anne Neirynck, a Sale coordinator, told me that “no matter what your interests are—art, environment, music, literature, politics, the sciences, crime,vampires, magical realism—we have books about them, all amazingly low-priced. You can find other things you’ll love here, like games, puzzles, music, graphic novels, manga, and comics. The selection is tremendous and everyone is having a good time. Come shop the Sale with your friends, and support the Library while you’re at it!”The Fall Book Sale is happening on three October weekends—October 8 through 10, 15 through 17, and 22 through 25—from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m at the warehouse on 509 Esty Street. And attention students! Student Night will be held on Wednesday, October 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. You must be sixteen or older (sorry freshies!) and show a current student ID (as embarrassing as your photo is). Senior Day is the same day and is not for high school seniors. (I know that’s confusing for some of you out there.)
Here are some tips and words of advice from the Book Sale top brass:
If you wish to avoid a long line on any particular Sale day, we suggest you line up early in the morning of that day or come later in the afternoon when the line tends to be shorter.
Please bring your own reusable bags, boxes, or bins. We offer bags and boxes, but they may run out later in the Sale!
On the last Monday of each Sale, every item on the main floor is just a dime! That’s just ten cents, folks. Buy all the books that fit in a standard, reusable grocery bag for only one dollar on Bag Day, the last Tuesday of each Sale.
On the Wednesday after the Sale, we welcome the following individuals or groups from Tompkins County to select items
for their school or organization, free of charge: teachers, home school teachers, student teachers, the clergy, community, and other not-for-profit organizations. Please bring proof of your affiliation with a local not-for-profit organization or a teacher ID.