The two-day used-book sale sponsored by Historic Vienna, Inc. pulls customers from throughout the region. Approximately 30,000 books, in every genre, are for sale. Photo by Donna Manz.
What has 30,000 used books selling for $2 and less, two weekend days of book fair, and funds exhibits and historical programming throughout the year? The Historic Vienna, Inc. [HVI] annual book sale.
Over the weekend of June 7-- 8, HVI took over the gym at the Vienna Community Center, laying out thousands upon thousands of used books in every genre donated by the community.
“We still have expenses coming in, but we grossed over $11,000,” said HVI president Anne Stuntz. “It's so exciting to get that kind of support for history in Vienna. It helps us with our exhibits, our research, the oral history project that we're doing again this year.”
On Friday evening, before the book sale opened to the public, HVI members were invited to a members-only preview and presale party. “It has turned into such a fun occasion that, next year, we want to have live period-music, and/ or reenactors there,” Stuntz said.
It’s a good thing HVI members have a presale to themselves. When the doors opened at 9 a.m., a line was waiting. And, in that line, were not just local residents but book dealers and people from other areas of Northern Virginia.
Dana Sweeney, staying in Vienna for the summer, comes from Georgia. “I really love books,” said Sweeney. “There’s such a great selection here. It’s really dangerous for my wallet.”
There were hardcover and softcover fiction bestsellers in almost-new condition, vintage novels and mysteries, nonfiction covering a spectrum of interests, from cooking to politics, and hundreds and hundreds of children’s books in varying degrees of condition and age-focus.
The kids’ section was a big draw, as it usually is. Children’s books were priced between 50 cents and $1 and boxes were laid out at kid-level on tables and on the floor. Just as adults did, kids filled up bags.
“It is always such a treat for us HVI board members to spend 18 hours with Vienna's booklovers over the weekend,” said Stuntz.