Part 1: July 13, 2013 Anticipation builds as bargain hunters and book lovers line up to fill their arms with some of the best book deals to be found in New England.
Part 2: July 13, 2013 - 11:00 AM. The identity of the person who will blow the opening whistle is a deep dark secret. Greg Marcello, Book Fair Steering Committee Clerk, introduces Gretchen Baker-Smith, Property Coordinator, to do the honors this year. They stand on the steps of the Macomber Community Center in which toys, "White Elephant" items, and Better Books are displayed.
Part 3: July 13, 2013 - 11:30 AM
Part 4: July 13, 2013 - inside the Society of Friends Meeting House, today filled with inexpensive books, 6 for a dollar, 25 cents apiece.
Part 5: July 13, 2013- 11:45 AM Inside the Macomber Community Center, filled with "White Elephant" items, toys, games, DVDs, video cassettes and a small collection of the Better Books left after the first hour of the book fair.
Part 6: July 13, 2013 Gretchen Baker-Smith, Property Coordinator for The Society of Friends Westport Meeting (Quaker), explains how the Friends Book Fair Committee organizes well over 20,000 books donated every year. Donors leave books inside this room on the side of the Macomber Community Center. The books are sorted and categorized, boxed and stored until the next Used Book Fair. Unsold books are sent to recyclers or other booksellers. People will begin donating for the 2014 Used Book Fair tomorrow, July 14, 2013!
People from far and wide donate books to the fair all year long. The door to the room adjacent to the Macomber Community House is always open. Volunteers sort and price the incoming piles every week.
Until early on the morning of the Used Book Fair, this shed next to the sorting room was filled to the ceiling with cartons of categorized and priced books.
On the very morning of the fair, volunteers cart the books to the two yellow and white striped tents in front of the Meeting House on Main Road or the Macomber Community House or The Meeting House itself. Imagine...20,000 books from shed to sale tables in a few hours...this operation takes place with precision, perspiration, and enough playfulness to keep everyone sane.
About one third of the donations are deemed unsaleable. These will be sent off to be recycled.
Photos and videos by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
Fabulous! Such a wonderful example of Yankee ingenuity and community. New England Americana in action. Your videos and photos make me feel like I've been there. Thanks!
Posted by: Susaan Straus | July 23, 2013 at 11:06 AM
Utterly wonderful. Would love to go next year. Thanks for this one.
Posted by: Mishy Lesser | July 23, 2013 at 11:19 AM