ST. LOUIS — Sunday kicked off the Jewish Community Center’s biannual used book sale, featuring dozens of genres and thousands of books to choose from.
“We measure in boxes, I would estimate 20 pounds per box,” said Hilary Gan, director of literary arts at the JCC. “Between 700 and 1,000 boxes; so up to about 20,000 books, records, CDs.
The second-hand sale book has delighted avid readers Courtney Cape and her 5-year-old daughter, Mira.
“We came especially to get him some books. So Harry Potter book number 1, she got “The Cursed Child”, so that’s good. But whatever it was really, we just came to get as much as we could,” she said.
Cape and his family come every year.
“My husband, he is there too, he buys records. But he teaches English, so we encouraged her at a very young age to love books and to love reading,” she said.
Since 1978, the JCC has received donations from the community and used these books to raise funds for its cultural arts programs. This includes a new Jewish theater, the Jewish Book Festival and the Jewish Film Festival.
This year, the book sale followed strict COVID guidelines – they require proof of vaccination. Both injections for Pfizer and Moderna, or the Johnson and Johnson single injection vaccine. Masks must be worn at all times.
“Because we serve vulnerable populations on-site at the JCC, such as our daycare center and some elderly visitors,” Gan said.
You can also present a negative COVID test performed within 48 hours of entry.
The used book sale runs Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Thursdays it runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and you can bring a bag, fill it with as many books as you want, and pay just $5.