Rain doesn't stop book sale

photo Helen Basham browses through books during the Friends of Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library book sale.

IF YOU GO

The Friends of the Library sale lasts through Monday at Eastgate Town Center, 5600 Brainerd Road. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

The pattering of rain could be heard from inside Eastgate Town Center. The raindrops could be seen from the skylights.

But the inclement weather after Tropical Storm Lee didn't stop Linda Dorn from making her way to the complex Monday to shop at the Friends of the Library used book sale. On the contrary, the Soddy-Daisy resident decided to visit the sale because she thought the rain would result in a smaller crowd.

"I just have always read. I grew up reading. I get it from my mother," said Dorn, who has a collection of more than 500 books, most of which she said she has bought at similar sales.

Despite the rain and flooding, attendance at the semiannual book sale was steady throughout the day Monday, according to sale Chairman Tom Adkins. While he thinks the weather may have reduced attendance, he hopes to make up the sales over the week.

The sale includes fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, audiobooks and VHS tapes, and it lasts through Monday. Some items are $1 or less. Adkins said there were no plans to reduce hours because of the weather, and the sale would close only if flooding closed access to Eastgate.

Because of the rain, John and Mary Beth Watson took their time driving to the sale from Soddy-Daisy. Once there, the husband and wife shopped for about an hour, stocking up on titles for themselves and their grandchildren.

"I had to put a few back. I get carried away." Mary Beth Watson said while standing by her shopping cart containing multiple stacks of books. "It's such a good price, you can't beat it."

The storm also didn't deter Doug West, who owns Grumpy's Music and Books in Hixson. West said he visited the sale because he needed to purchase items to resell at his used bookstore.

"In this type of business, you got to do what you have to do," said West, who hoped to buy six to 10 boxes of items.

Proceeds from the sale go to the Chattanooga Public Library to fund things such as library programs and staff training, Friends of the Library volunteer Mary Aleta Word said.

Contact staff writer Naomi Jagoda at njagoda@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6476.

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