Toting a red wagon half full of books, mother-daughter pair Alicia and Olivia DeSantis carefully combed the selection at the Friends of the Lancaster Public Library Used Book Sale this morning.
"It's like a treasure hunt," Alicia DeSantis said. "We're a whole family of readers, so we're stocking up."
The pair, who call themselves "professional" book hunters, had already unloaded a wagon's worth in their car by 8 a.m.
"I read a lot, but buying books somewhere like Barnes and Noble can get expensive," said Olivia DeSantis, who just finished her freshman year at Lancaster Catholic High School.
The DeSantis women were two among several hundred book enthusiasts who flocked to the Franklin & Marshall College Alumni Center this morning for the opening of the book sale.
The sale, in its 56th year, benefits the Lancaster Public Library as well as the Mountville and Leola libraries. Books, book sets, CDs, records and videos are available from 50 cents.
VIDEO: Big book sale begins The sale will be held through Wednesday, when remaining books will be half price. On Tuesday, the sale will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Shoppers of all ages enjoyed the book selection today.
They had more than 250,000 titles to survey, in subjects ranging from mysteries, novels and reference works to teen interests, children's literature and science fiction.
One of the youngest patrons was Henry Mitchell, who will celebrate his first birthday in August. He paged through "Just A Rainy Day" by Mercer Mayer in a stoller piled high with books while grandmother Jane Shultz, a Lititz resident, looked on.
'This is his first trip to the book sale, and he will be coming back," said Shultz, who brought Mitchell's uncle, Dan Shultz, to the sale as a baby more than 30 years ago as well.
Shultz said she has continued to come back for more than three decades for the "good bargains, great books and friendly service."
In addition to those finding books for themselves, school district teachers, homeschool mothers and used-book vendors were in the crowd. Many professionals scanned rows of books in minutes with hand-held electronic devices.
Ben Rutt, who resells books online, said the tools tell buyers how much the books are worth based on how many copies are available online.
"A lot of these books are worth a penny," Rutt said, scanning "Home By Starlight" by Jerri Corgiat to demonstrate. "I wouldn't buy anything (that would resell for) less than $4."
Books are not the only sale attraction. Gene Standley, a classical musician with the Columbus Symphony, said he has been coming to the sale for about five years for the music selection.
"This is the only book sale I come to for records," Standley, of Alexandria, Ohio, said. "I can tell they clean them and grade them. They've spoiled me — I can't go to any other (sales) anymore."
By 8:30 a.m., Standley was getting ready to fill his station wagon with about 600-700 records, which he said averaged a dollar apiece.
The early morning hours and wide array of books were tiring for some. Lying on the gymnasium floor, Lancaster resident David Everhart took a break from a long morning of book hunting.
"I've never seen anything like this," Everhart said. "There are insane amounts of books, and you can't beat the prices."
Julie Ranny, of State College, echoed Everhart's sentiments, holding up a vintage "Electric Cookbook" and a book of Scottish recipes.
"Where else could you find this selection?" Ranny asked. "There are truly treasures out there to find — and for $1 or $2, how could you go wrong?"
Staff writer Katy Hopkins can be reached at khopkins@LNPnews.com or 481-6028. 
