A goldmine for bargain book hunters at the Newport Beach library

Everyone loves a bargain, and for those who also love books, some

of the best buys in town can be found in the Newport Beach Friends of

the Library’s Used Bookstore. Tucked in a first-floor corner of the

Newport Beach Central Library, this goldmine for readers houses an

ever-evolving inventory of current bestsellers, as well as classics,

nonfiction and such rare finds as a 15-volume set of Charles Dickens

novels published in 1926.

Paperback prices range from two for a buck to $2 for more recent

editions. Hardcover volumes are priced from $1 to $6 for current

bestsellers. Coffee table books and special finds can be had for $3

to $25 or more, depending on condition.

Selections include fiction by such popular authors as John

Grisham, Tom Clancy and Ann Tyler, as well as drama, cookbooks,

biographies, poetry and children’s books. Also available are books on

audiotape, videos and CDs.

“This is a great source for books that are so inexpensive many

people leave them behind at vacation destinations,” observed Friends

President Gary Mueller.

Mueller is one of about 100 energetic volunteers who sort, price

and sell 200,000 to 300,000 gently used volumes annually. Most are

donations from a generous community. A smaller number are “weeded”

from library collections and given to the store for resale.

Volunteers keep the store open seven days a week, more than 2,000

hours annually. Through their efforts, the Newport Beach Public

Library has received some $846,000 over the eight years the store has

been in operation.

Most of the funds are used for children’s programs and bus

transportation for school field trips to the Central and Mariners

Branch libraries. Others augment the library’s budget for materials

and electronic databases.

A good percentage of the store’s profits are realized at quarterly

book sales, featuring hard-to-beat “buck a bag” deals. Held in the

Central Library’s Friends Meeting Room, these fund-raisers draw

hundreds of customers, including many attracted by the opportunity to

amass 15 to 20 books in a bag priced at $1.

The next sale will begin with a special members-only preview from

1 to 5 p.m. today. Apply for Friends membership at the door and enjoy

the best selection of novels, nonfiction and one-of-a kind finds. The

public is invited to browse for bargains from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday.

“We expect to deplete our inventory at this event, so we’ll be

sorely in need of donations next week,” Mueller said.

Materials may be dropped off at the Central Library or at any of

the city’s three branch libraries. All will help the Friends maintain

a 35-year tradition of satisfying “wish lists” of the Newport Beach

Public Library.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach

Public Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in

collaboration with the Friends of the Library.