What they don’t want, you might: Jefferson Parish Library’s Big Book Sale

Common sense suggests that the vast majority of the 60,000 used books, DVDs, CDs, VHS, cassettes, and records on sale this Thursday through Sunday at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner will be total crap. But, in such volume, there are not only bound to be some gems, but my guess is that the reading public out in Jefferson Parish is such that quite a few quality books have probably gone un-checked-out for some time, and therefore end up in the sale stock. Can you imagine a first-edition Norman Rush novel or collection of Adrienne Rich’s poetry gathering dust on a shelf in Metairie for years until some granny librarian decides to pull it for the sale? I can. I found a first-edition copy of Rock Springs by Richard Ford in a thrift store on Airline Highway in Kenner while I was searching for Mardi Gras costume components.

I’ve never been to the Big Book Sale before, so maybe I’m being optimistic, but if you’ve got the time and the inclination, it might be worth the trip, especially since all selections are allegedly in good condition and will be sold at reasonable prices.