The Malibu Library meeting room was abustle during the annual Friends of the Malibu Library (FOML) Book Fair over the weekend. A large variety of items were available to purchase, including rare and collectable hardbacks, paperbacks, records, DVDs CDs, audiobooks and more. At the bargain price of 50 cents and up, everything was priced to sell; collectables were priced a bit higher.
FOML has been selling books to the Malibu community for close to 35 years. The word has spread to dealers who frequently visit the FOML Bookstore (located within the library) and who line up for the annual book fair to look for collectables.
Robert Largen, who has been a dealer for about six years, said he buys anything in the “entertainment, fun realm,” selling to about 16 different websites.
“We’ve gone to Texas and the upper Midwest for some sales,” Largen said. “There are sales that have 100,000 to one million items. We recently purchased a turntable at an estate sale for $10 and sold it for over $1,000.”
Over 40 dealers attended this year’s book fair.
“This was our first time to Malibu,” Largen explained. “It was a beautifully organized sale with fine categorization of items and friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. It was fairly competitive, but the competitors were very courteous and well mannered.”
There was plenty to choose from, with more items than space to display. Donations are primarily from Malibu residents, some of whom have been donating for years.
Proceeds raised at the book sale will go to help support children, adult and teen programs, as well as to purchase prizes and arts and crafts supplies.
“Our annual sale has become a Malibu tradition and a special time for our volunteers to work together and serve our community of book lovers,” FOML Treasurer Yvonne Tang shared. “It’s such a pleasure to see friends, families and neighbors greet one another, compare favorite books, and walk out with bags of goodies.”
