Every spring, hundreds of people gather at the Snider Agricultural Arena in State College for one of the biggest used book sales in the country: the annual American Association of University Women (AAUW) State College Used Book Sale. Running since 1962, the sale attracts visitors from across the county who come to browse through hundreds of thousands of books, CDs, games, puzzles, and collectibles. This year, the sale was held on May 9-12 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Beyond the books themselves, the event plays a major role in supporting education, scholarships, and community programs in Centre County. According to the AAUW State College Used Book Website, proceeds from the sale help fund scholarships for women adult learners, STEM programs, local nonprofits, and other educational initiatives in Centre County.
But behind the packed shelves and crowded aisles are dozens of volunteers working long hours to make the event happen – including State High students.
Ea Stilson, a sophomore at Delta, volunteered before the sale officially opened by helping unload books into the arena. For Stilson, the event has always been something bigger than just buying books.
“I know that the book sale has been going on for a long time and is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, used book sales for Pennsylvania,” Stilson said. “A lot of people come to it, and it’s an important part of the community because it gets a lot of the community together.”
Stilson said seeing the event promoted around school encouraged her to get involved this year after attending as a shopper in previous years.
“Because it was posted a lot around school, and I have been there before to buy books in past years,” Stilson said. “So I thought it would be cool to volunteer this year.”
A State High student volunteer, senior Autumn Shoemaker, said she signed up after hearing about it from her mom and because she already enjoyed the event itself.
“My mom had suggested it to me, and I’ve attended the used book sale for a few years. I really enjoy it.” Shoemaker said.
While shoppers mainly see rows of organized books, volunteers quickly realize how much work happens behind the scenes.
“It really does take a village to put on community events because there were just so, so many volunteers, and we needed all of them,” Shoemaker said. “It took a lot of manpower to do everything, and it was a really great community.”
The sale’s huge variety is a part of what keeps people coming back every year. From children’s books and classic novels to CDs, sheet music, and coffee table art books, there is something for almost everyone.
“They have all kinds of books, like giant coffee table art books, children’s books to classic novels,” Stilson said.
The affordable prices are another reason the event matters to the community, especially as the cost of books continues to rise.
“There’s such a wide variety of books, and they’re all so cheap,” Shoemaker said. “A lot of hardbacks now, if you go to a store for like $30, you can get a hardback for $10 or less.”
As the sale continues to grow each year, it remains more than just a place to buy inexpensive books. For many people in State College, it has become a yearly tradition that connects the community through a shared love of reading, sustainability, and supporting local education.
