For The 28th Time––

Zang’s Anonymous Army Brings Home The Book Sale

By Dottie Evans

Once again, a not-so-small miracle has been accomplished, and the 28th Annual Friends of Booth Library Labor Day Book Sale is ready to roll.

The five-day event opens Saturday, August 30, at 9 am, and for those who want to be first in line, numbered admission tickets will go on sale Friday, noon until 9 pm, and again on Saturday at 8 am.

Thousands of book lovers throughout New England will be converging on Bridgeport Hall on the Fairfield Hills campus this weekend to see what treasures can be found among more than 160,000 volumes in 75 categories. Many visitors are returnees from years past, book lovers who were impressed with the level of organization and selection and look forward to the annual Newtown sale.

The inside secret to this success is the hard work and dedication of around 50 community volunteers from Newtown and surrounding towns, who have donated countless hours of their time.

“I credit their experience and their enthusiasm,” said Chairman Joanne Zang. “They are the ones who have built this, book-by-book, box-by-box.”

First and foremost, however, was Mrs Zang herself, who first conceived of a library book sale 28 years ago. It was Labor Day 1975, when she set up a few card tables on the front lawn of the Cyrenius Booth Library, and the rest is history.

Book sale volunteers are a diverse lot drawn together by their love of books and reading. They are educators, librarians, businesspeople, engineers, a former pilot, a chemistry expert, and homemakers. Usually, they prefer to remain anonymous, because they do not want credit for their efforts. Often, they decline to provide their last names when interviewed, and they shy away from being photographed.

Inside A Well-Oiled Machine

A visit to Bridgeport Hall early this week provided insight into the degree of cooperation and dedication shared by these tireless workers, whose various tasks and responsibilities mesh like the gears in a well-oiled machine.

One gets the feeling that the book sale is a perpetual motion situation, that these volunteers are motivated to fulfill their functions every year with or without oversight. The only common constraint is their mutual knowledge there will be an opening day and they must be ready.

Upon entering cavernous Bridgeport Hall on Monday, the sight of thousands of books lined up on the tables and the hum of volunteers going about their business down the rows was impressive. Countless small details needed attention.

“We’re all zombies at this point,” said one volunteer, who continued doggedly to check her categories, set her signs straight, put duplicate volumes in boxes underneath the tables for later use, and straighten the long rows.

One man spent the entire morning vacuuming the floor, walking up and down the rows, the machine strapped to his back.

“It’s the only time this place really gets cleaned up, once a year,” joked Mrs Zang.

The volunteers boast that they have all lost weight working the book sale, from carrying boxes, lifting books, moving books, constantly walking here and there, night and day in the heat and humidity.

“My wife even noticed I was thinner,” commented volunteer Eric Neidhardt, who gave his full name after much urging.

Volunteer Nancy Steiner had come from Shelton to work the sale.

“It’s the best in the state. I’ve always been a buyer, but now I’m retired so I wanted to work on it,” Ms Steiner said.

While talking to her volunteers, Mrs Zang was momentarily distracted by a red pickup truck at the door loaded down with book cartons.

“Wait a minute! Is he bringing those in or taking them away?” she asked, alarmed at the thought of more books to be sorted and inserted into the 75 categories, this late in the game.

A volunteer spoke up, easing her mind.

“Don’t worry. He’s going to the dump. Got anything else to go?”

Other random comments floated back and forth.

“Did you notice New Age is back?”

“Where’s Brad?”

“He’s under the records looking for garbage.”

“Hey, it’s Tuesday. Aren’t the soda people supposed to come?”

“Art looks good this year, as always. By 9:30 am those books will all be gone.”

Many of the Library Book Sale volunteers with more than 20 years experience have become specialists and experts in various categories. The following are just a very few of these dedicated people.

Peter Stern, whose brother has a book business, focuses on the collectible books. John Renjilian, a librarian and antiquarian book dealer, selects and evaluates the rare books. Susan Shaw, who used to own a craft shop and is a part-time librarian, develops the hobby and craft section. Dan Cruson, the town historian, is the history expert and he frequently peruses the Local Interest category to cull out treasures that might better be sold in the Rare Book Room. Denise Kaiser oversees the Children’s Book section with some 15 subcategories, including classics and children’s collectible books. Maureen Armstrong continues to come back each year to work on the biographies section. Ray Shaw takes photographs and designs the T-shirts that the volunteers will be wearing at the sale.

As in the past, the motto for this year remains under wraps until Saturday’s grand opening.

The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Annual Labor Day Book Sale takes place Saturday, August 30, through Wednesday, September 3. Hours are 9 to 5 each day, and the sale takes place in Bridgeport Hall on the Fairfield Hills campus.

Adult admission will be charged Saturday only, $10 from 9 am to noon, and $5 from noon to 5 pm.

For the first time this year, only Booth Library numbers will be honored so that all book shoppers are treated equitably. Numbered admission tickets go on sale Friday, August 29, from noon to 9 pm, and on Saturday, August 30, at 8 am.

 On Monday, all books and records will be half price, and on Tuesday shoppers will fill bags of books for $5. On Wednesday, everything remaining will be free.

Signs from Exit 11 on Interstate 84 will direct people to the book sale site located just off Mile Hill Road. Handicapped-accessible parking is available.

 For more information, call the Booth Library at 426-4533 or visit the website, www.biblio.org/chbooth/booksale.htm.