Trinity Sustainability’s secondhand book sale, held in the Exam Hall in Front Square on February 11-13, was a huge hit. Students and staff donated books in various subjects. To make the experience as seamless as possible for visitors, the books were sorted and priced by a group of volunteers aiming to raise money for the College libraries. Tuesday’s entry fee for the sale was three euro, but Wednesday and Thursday had free admission. On Thursday, all books were sold at half price. With most books priced around 1-3 euro, the sale had something for everyone on every budget. In addition to the sale, a rare book auction took place on Tuesday, with iconic books such as Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor and William Blake’s Song of Innocence on the block.
Hundreds of students and staff were seen leaving the exam hall with large SuperValu bags or cardboard boxes filled to the brim with books. Book lovers were presented with rows of novels on every subject one could think of, whether a buyer was looking for some light reading, research material, or a new graphic novel. Many students seemed excited to acquire new reading material in a sustainable way. The secondhand book sale is a great way to support the College sustainably that doesn’t break the bank (especially on a student budget). With the average price of a paperback book ranging from 10-20 euro, students can instead attend the book sale, also helping the environment, without going broke.
In the Exam Hall, tables overflowed with gently used treasures and well-worn classics. After sorting through the stacks amid the excited murmur of fellow bargain-hunters for about an hour, I managed to unearth some gems. I left with five books (only costing me eight euro), some of my favourites including a Hank Williams biography and a Behind-the-Scenes opus on Audrey Hepburn and the making of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. My most treasured find was an account from Irish author Helen Murray on the politics and history of women’s lingerie, entitled What Lies Beneath.
Second-year Political Science and Social Policy student Isabelle Slentz also left the sale with a few of her own unique finds.
“I found one very cool book about my favourite artist, Chagall. And I loved how interesting the history section was,” she noted.
There was also a big focus on Irish literature and Irish fiction, with titles by James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Seamus Heaney for sale, to name a few. If you’re into niche literary finds and aren’t inclined to spend an arm and a leg on a paperback novel at Hodges Figgis, make sure to check out the Second-Hand book sale next year.
This article originally appeared in print in our February issue.
