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Stock Up at the VNSA Book Sale in Arizona

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Shop for books at the VNSA Book Sale.

Shop for books at the VNSA Book Sale.

The 55th Annual VNSA Used Book Sale is being held on February 12th and 13th, 2011, at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona. “VNSA” originally stood for Visiting Nurse Service Auxiliary, who were the original founders of the book sale back in 1957. The name changed but the logo remained the same – “VNSA” now stands for Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association. Doors for the VNSA Book Sale open each day at 8:00 a.m. and close at 6:00 p.m. Get there EARLY to get a head start on the books; lines start forming as early as 4:00 a.m. both mornings! People can get into such a frenzy for this book sale that it obliged the organizers of the event to post the policy, “All patrons must walk, not run, when entering the sale and while moving around the building, keeping safety in mind.”

Tens of thousands – perhaps even hundreds of thousands – of used (and some new) books are stacked, lined, and piled up along isles and isles of tables, shelves, and cases, taking up an enormous space inside the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Books are organized by every topic imaginable, including an area for rare books, and an updated layout map is posted to their official website every January. This is for the exact purpose of helping folks come up with a game plan for getting to the books that they need. Seriously, I’ve stood in line and listened to folks planning as if they were preparing for battle. Watches were synchronized. Maps were drawn out. Veterans of the event told dramatic tales of book sales gone by. It’s fascinating.

Admission is free, though the Arizona State Fairgrounds charges a parking fee. Merchandise payment is accepted in the form of cash, LOCAL checks, Visa, Mastercard, and debit cards showing the Visa or Mastercard logo. Shopping carts are provided for those with a mind towards stocking up, and shipping services are available for out-of-state visitors.

The VNSA book sale supports The Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation, The Literacy Volunteers of Maricopa County, and The Toby House. Like-new-condition books can sell for PENNIES, many sell for just a buck, and there is a vast variety to hunt through. More likely than not, you will find gems at this book sale that you will not find anywhere else. It’s an unlikely adventure, but it is fun. It’s kind of like a treasure hunt, really.

Be prepared to be canny, though. Like I said, folks line up EARLY (the biggest crowd is on Saturday) and they strategize all year round for this event. Some take the VNSA book sale VERY seriously. Watching and listening to the avid book hunters is a form of entertainment in itself. So go, have fun, find some good reads, and support some excellent causes!

Photo credit: “browsing for books” by Special KRB on Flickr Creative Commons.


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