Posted: March 9, 2010 |(0) Comments

I don't usually have a problem finding a parking spot at Village Hall.

But on Friday the cars were circling the lot and parking by the pool as people turned out en masse for the 24th annual Friends of the Elm Grove Library Book Sale.

According to FOEGL members, people were lining up prior the 9 a.m. opening. In fact, there were book dealers camping out before the 6 p.m. preview sale March 4, as early as 12:30 p.m. I even heard a report of someone being there at 9 that morning.

Upon walking into the lower level of the library building, I could see why. The O'Neill and Community rooms were filled with books in boxes on tables, below tables and in the walk-in closet. Not just books, but audio books, music and films, on all types of media, from vinyl records to DVDs.

More boxes of books lined the halls and the Book Crew of FOEGL members kept pulling out more items as the shoppers delved into the stock to find hidden biblio-gems.

"This is fun - the thrill of the hunt. You can find something that's different," said David Biemann of Milwaukee, who tries to get to as many book sales as he can.

In the children's picture book section, Kristin Gjerdset of West Allis was flipping through the stock.

"I just enjoy collecting books," she said. "I'm also a professor of art so I look for books that I could use for my students, especially illustrations in children's books."

Gjerdset said what sets the FOEGL book sale apart is the quality and variety.

FOEGL receives book donations year round. Book sale organizer Pat Ruttum said the group will pick up books from Elm Grove residents' homes if need be.

The group stacks the books in the walk-in closet, sorting them as they trickle in. Then, the week before the sale, the books take over the lower level.

"We love the library," said FOEGL member Karen Dahlman. "We call ourselves bibliomaniacs, bibliophiles. We need to do bibliotherapy, so we come over here to sort together."

Barbara Schaefer helped sort and organize the books and was finally getting the chance to buy some of the books Thursday.

"I'm always surprised at the wide interest the people of Elm Grove have," she said. "The books we get are just unbelievable as far as the subject matter. We do have a lot of very well-read people here."

"We're building up to an exciting 25th anniversary next year," said FOEGL member Kathy Tusing. "We have a reading community that's not afraid to share their books with us, which is great."

Not only a reading community, but a community that supports its library in return.

All proceeds from the FOEGL book sale go to the library. Ruttum said the funds will help add finishing touches to the renovated children's area, which was completed solely with FOEGL funds.

"It's a good cause for the community," said Elm Grove resident Connie Kreif. "This is really the only (book sale I attend) because it's my community and I want to support my community."

 

Call Julie Ann Marra at (262) 446-6634 or e-mail jmarra@cninow.com.