From left: Jayoung Han, a McLean resident and stay-at-home mom, and her son Henry checkout children’s books from Elaine Lailas of Leesburg, a 50-year member of the AAUW at Spring Hill Recreation Center Friday, Oct. 6. Photo by Colin Stoecker/The Connection
For the past 48 years, the American Association of University Women’s (AAUW) used-book sale has always been held in the McLean Community Center. As that building is currently undergoing a renovation, the sale was moved to the Spring Hill Recreation Center.
People flocked to the used-book sale, held on two separate floors: upstairs was a children’s book room with families and kids, and downstairs were the books for adults.
The book sale was hosted by The American Association of University Women which was founded in 1969. They use the funds raised from selling the books to sponsor scholarships for three local universities, George Mason, Marymount and Trinity University. The association also sponsors STEM programs for young girls and leadership and workforce trainings in the D.C. area.
The AAUW has raised more than $675,000 over the years towards scholarships for women of all ages to pursue higher education.
“It’s good to get kids to still love books!” said Betsy Schroeder, co-president of the McLean area branch of the AAUW.
The turnout was impressive as area residents, book lovers, and even independent booksellers showed up in droves to the three-day book sale that ran all weekend.
“The most amazing thing for me to see is so much here to take your brain in a different direction. I’ve found books from my teaching to work. It’s the best deal in town,” said Peter Pin, McLean resident and manager at Verizon. “I just spent $50 and Blaine spent $100.”
Sunday was $10 bag day: Shoppers could bring in a shopping bag and fill it with books.
“We’ve been trying to refine our collection to the most sellable books,” said Schroeder. History and literature are the most popular genre amongst shoppers.
Loren Willcock, an independent bookseller from Maryland also attended the used-book sale on Friday, Oct. 6. “It’s a very nice book sale, with lots of space, everybody is friendly. A lot of times you can’t fit two people shoulder to shoulder down an aisle at book sales,” said Willcock. He stood in line for an hour waiting to get inside today and left with around 200 books.
“This is a well-read area, so the wealth of books here is so important,” said Blaine Miller, a McLean resident and consultant.