This summer I have spent lots of time cleaning out what needs to be thinned, purged, or organized. I found two big boxes of baby clothes from 40 years ago, 45 records (speed not number) from 60 years ago, boxes of magazines saved from 25 years ago to look! I won't bore you with any more stuff that we found, but the "stuff" confirmed how life has changed.

Don't need the magazines anymore. . . I have bing.com. Don't need the snap undershirts for babies. . . .there are onesies. Don't need the 45 records. . . .I have downloads. I did find a few books that I couldn't part with. I surmise that photos and letters may become extinct because of digital pictures and emails, but I have faith that books are alive in spite of Kindles and e-books. For years I have been attending the Indiana Library Foundation book sale and I am always amazed at the number of people who descend upon the used book sale. Each time I attend, it confirms my belief that books and print are here to stay.

The library has always been a special place for many folks. At the original Broad Ripple Library on Guilford, I used to love to check out the mounted pictures to accompany my reports for school. I felt really accomplished when I mastered how to use the Dewey Decimal System to find a book on the shelves. The check-out cards in the back of the book were fun to study to see who else had read the book. I loved the summer reading club when I got stars or stickers for a book read. . . now days this would not encourage many to engage. Oh, have libraries changed! Today, you will find lots of computers alongside books in both the children's and adult's sections. There are self-check outs, job coaching and employment help, and generous offerings of classes, discussions, and events. Some libraries even check out items other than books. The library has changed to serve their customers just like many other businesses.

One event the library offers has remained fairly constant-the used book sale. The Library Service Center hosts the sale five times a year, each for five consecutive days. If you are a Friend of the Library Foundation, you get first-night access to the sale. After the first evening, the sale located at 2450 N. Meridian Street is open to the public. The items at the sale are donated or have been pulled out of circulation from the different libraries in Indy. Pricing is the amazing feature of these events: Adult Hardbacks: $2.00; Juvenile Hardbacks: $1.00; Paperback books: 50 cents; Juvenile Paperbacks: 25 cents; Records, Tapes & CDs: 50 cents to $1.00; DVDs: $1.00 - $3.00. They also have a corner for off-price, more valuable items. Last time I went they had lots of comic books, and I got 3 for a dollar. My grandson loved them!

The remaining sales this year are in September and November. Check out https://www.indyplfoundation.org/book-sale for exact dates. Just a bit more about the sale-it began in 1982 and was called Secondhand Prose. More than $4.6 million has been raised for the Library Foundation through book sale proceeds. The Indy Library Store also sells online at Amazon, AbeBooks and eBay anytime. Finally, you can donate your books to the Indy Library Store!

One time I was in line checking out, and I saw a woman watching a twenty-something customer that had a huge stack of children's books. I heard her ask if she was a teacher. The young woman said yes and that her school didn't have the funds to buy books for her class. This was neat because the older woman told the clerk to put that stack of books on her tab! That truly was a moment when I was glad I came to the book sale that night. You never know who you will meet there, what great items you will find, or what will happen. If you still have the love of books, CDs, DVDs and want to build your private library, check out this fantastic book sale. The Indianapolis Public Library website is www.indypl.org. I might see you there. I can always find room for one more book!