Bibliophile Tips: How to Navigate Book Sales/Festivals

Hello everyone! I’m back with another round of Bibliophile Tips! Today I’ll be chatting about tips navigate local books sales or book festivals that you may want to shop at. Here are some suggestions that have helped me in the past.

Get There Early

If there’s one thing I learned about any kind of sale (especially when it’s a limited time event) getting there early is the best thing you can do. Most book sales/festivals are first come, first serve when it comes to purchases unless something specified (ex. One book per person). Getting there early may allow you to beat the crowd and get to look at a selection that is not picked over by the latter part of the event.

Patience is Key

With bigger events comes a larger crowd which means playing the waiting game. Although you and a fellow book lover may want to pursue the same spot nobody likes a table hog with bad manners. People will be pushy, cut in front of you, and sometimes there is a wait to look at stuff. As my mom says, pack your patience, particularly when the event may become crowded.

Create a Wish List

I love to peruse the stacks of books for anything that might catch my eye, but if it’s a busier event I like to create a wish list of sports. It helps me look for a book on my TBR list that I want to buy or something specific I want to add to my collection such as Goosebumps book with the original classic covers, I grew up with.

Set A Budget

I’ve learned the hard way that if I don’t set a budget for myself, it can get out of control. If you can, try to set a budget for yourself so you won’t overspend on books. It may be a good idea to walk around the venue first to figure out what to purchase, then buy stuff. However, if there is a table with limited stock or even a author selling their own books you may want to snag those first. The last book festival I went to I wanted to purchase a book from a local author and her books sold out within the first hour of the event!

Have Fun!