AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
It was late-afternoon on November 7, the second day of the American Association of University Women – Anne Arundel County (AAUW) Used Booksale being held in a storefront at Chesterfield Square in Glen Burnie. For so late in the day, we found quite a few booklovers checking out thousands of titles arranged on tables across the main floor as well as a backroom filled primarily with children’s books.
When we stopped at the checkout counter to say hello, AAUW president Roxann King and longtime member Barbara Marder told us that, by the time we arrived, they’d already sold thousands of books – about a third of them during the first day of the sale.
“When the 8-10 am pre-sale period for dealers ended and it was time to open to the public, a long line of people had formed on the sidewalk waiting to come in,” King said. “We were busy today too.”
Marder suggested we check out some of the empty shelves.
“Whole sections of our books sold out,” she said.
Sure enough, we came across two sections near the back that had been emptied entirely with three shelves of a third section empty.
With the advent of eBooks, many pundits predicted a decline in the number of published books in print. One might reasonably have wondered if print books would still be popular.
You’d better believe it according to the most recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center on book consumption in 2024. The study revealed that traditional print is still the most popular reading format for both adults and children – a fact that is borne out by the success of the AAUW Used Booksale over the past several years.
Once more, we appreciated the immense collection of used books assembled by AAUW members each year through donations by local residents at summer Book Dropoff sites they set up at shopping centers or church parking lots. Members also pick up books from estate sales or from residents wanting to donate their own collections. The books are stored through summer and fall, then trucked to the sale site, unloaded, unpacked from boxes, sorted and arranged in sections by members and volunteers.
The range of categories is tremendous including the extremely popular biography and history sections. There is a Finance category, a State of Maryland category and multiple Science sections, Nature sections and, of course, Travel sections. The How-To section has books favored by DIY fans covering skills like carpentry, sewing, and plumbing. (Some, written in the past, were fascinating to thumb through and possibly collectible).
The most expansive sections are those dedicated to Romance novels and Mystery/Thrillers. My own favorite genres are biographies and mysteries so I can always be found in those sections.
Last year I was pleased to add to my collection a novel written in 1905 by Western author Owen Wister. This year I found bestsellers by some of our most masterful mystery writers including P. D. James, Dick Francis, Robert B. Parker, Michael Connelly and Robert Crais.
It’s not unusual to run into interesting people at the annual sale. While checking out the Fiction Section, we bumped into Patricia Wyatt (seen in the opening photo) who served as AAUW membership chairwoman in previous years and was proudly wearing her AAUW sweatshirt.
Patricia and her husband Colonel (retired) James E Wyatt are founders of the Nannie Helen Burroughs Project. When denied a teaching job for being “too Black”, Burroughs started her own school in Washington, D.C. in 1909. Originally called the National Training School for Women and Girls but later renamed the Nannie Helen Burroughs School, it remained in operation through 2013. An important educator and religious leader, she was also active politically. She had a number of significant achievements and was a friend and supporter of Martin Luther King and his family and others in the Civil Rights Movement.
The annual AAUW book sale is the major fundraiser for the American Association of University Women’s scholarship program. Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for girls and women who are Anne Arundel Community College grads transferring to a university and for the Women to Women program for individuals returning to the workplace or opening businesses and needing further education. For more information about the activities of the members, visit AAUW Anne Arundel County (MD) Branch
Save The Date for Severn Cross Roads Foundation’s Holiday Craft Party at Baldwin Hall
The Severn Cross Roads Foundation invites you to join them for a holiday craft night fundraiser at Historic Baldwin Hall on December 5th starting at 6:30 pm. Have fun making your own lighted sea glass tree or wreath with all supplies included along with an actual starfish. The cost is $75 per person with the proceeds going to SCRF toward the maintenance and preservation of Baldwin Hall. To reserve your space, you can send a check for $75 to Severn Cross Roads Foundation at PO Box 223, Crownsville MD 21032 or use PayPal.me/BaldwinHallMD.
Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber’s Holiday Taste & Sip Extravaganza Dec. 9th
The Greater Severna Park & Arnold Chamber of Commerce announced that its 15th Annual Holiday Taste & Sip Extravaganza will take place on Tuesday, December 9th at Chartwell Golf & Country Club from 5 to 8 pm. One of our area’s leading social occasions, the event will feature “tastes” from the finest local food and drink purveyors along with entertainment and an impressive Silent Auction. We’ll have more information on this holiday event at a later date.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
