Young, old and people of all ages in between formed a long line that stretched all the way around a corner. Excitement filled the air as friends conversed happily while they waited their turn in line. Most had arrived first thing in the morning, hoping to beat the crowd.
No, these people were not waiting to buy tickets to an N’Sync concert. They were in line waiting for the opportunity to purchase used books at the Malibu Public Library’s 23rd Annual Book Fair.
The Friends of the Malibu Library, a nonprofit organization, hosted the book fair, which took place Saturday and Sunday.
Friends was launched in 1978 when a group of Malibuites came together to raise money to save the very existence of the Malibu library during a period when the county was lacking money to fund it. These days, the funds raised from the book fair are used primarily for the children’s summer reading program, as well as to update material in the library.
Members of Friends collect books over the course of the year that people have donated, then sort through them, categorize and load them into boxes to be taken to the library for this special event.
“The annual book fair has become a tradition in the community,” said Friends board member June Korn.
Malibu residents weren’t the only ones to show up at the event.
“The pros come early to get all the books and resell them for twice as much,” said Michael Carven, of “General Hospital” fame. The Swiss soap actor had observed a few people who had shown up first thing Saturday morning grabbing as many books as they could get their hands on, taking advantage of the $1 hardcover/$.50 paperback prices. “Then they leave with all those books and resell them at their own stores for so much more money.”
Carven, an avid reader himself, also left with a box full of books, ranging from French philosophy to Shakespearean poetry.
Although Carven chose the more intellectual route with his purchases, most folks headed to the back of the library to stock up on paperback novels.
Authors such as Danielle Steele and Jackie Collins were plentiful, as well as Stephen King and James Patterson.
Books were not the only selling item, however. One could also purchase records for $.10, and tapes and videocassettes for $.50 each.
One generous person was kind enough to donate the Tyson/Holyfield fight they had taped on video. Unfortunately, it was not purchased.
Still, not everyone was there to buy. Jordan McCarthy, who will be attending Malibu Middle School as a seventh grader in the fall, was volunteering at the book fair for the second year in a row. He volunteered last year because “I like books, I like the library, and my parents are Friends of the Library,” he said.
And this year?
“I had such a great time I decided to come back,” explained McCarthy.”
“Besides,” he added, “what else is there to do over the summer?”
As long as people continue to donate used books for the fair, McCarthy won’t have to worry about an uneventful summer. Some residents, upon death, have left all of their books to Friends specifically for this event.
Laughing, June Korn reminds folks in Malibu to “remember us in your will.”