The Great Park Slope Book Sale is Coming!

Get ready: this weekend the annual Book Sale hits Park Slope.

Now in its 18th year, the book sale has become a much-loved tradition, where thrifty bookworms and mediaphiles can scoop up bargains like $2 hardcovers, $1 records and $4 DVDs at the Sixth Avenue and Eighth Street Church.

The book sale is a fundraiser for the church, and all books are donated to the church the week before the sale. Nancy Crumley, a church member who organizes the sale, estimates that last year the church sale boasted about 30,000 books.

“To me I think one thing that is so neat is that the very book one person wants to get rid of is the treasure someone else is looking for. It’s amazing to me that every year we get such an overload of fantastic donations,” said Crumley, adding that last year the church raked in just under $16,000 from the sale. That’s significant growth from the sale’s first year, in which the church made just $800.

The sale gets going this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday after church from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. And for the first time ever, this year major book lovers can get a head start on the fire sale book buying at a special preview beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday for a $10 donation.

“I do think that it’s sort of a myth that you have to come early, otherwise everything will be gone,” added Crumley. “Usually we have so many donations that we’re putting them out throughout the day. And everyone is looking for different things. Sometimes I have found my greatest treasures when we’re packing up.”

Those who wish to donate books to the church book sale can do so on Thursday, Feb. 24 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the church and Friday, Feb. 25, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. All donations are tax-deductible. For more details, visit the church website at www.parkslopeumc.org.