The Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (HPKCC) will hold its ninth annual used book sale this weekend at the Hyde Park Shopping Center.
Jane Ciacci, co-chair of the event, estimates that the group has collected almost 50,000 books spanning 50 subject categories, including mystery, poetry, fiction, and literary classics. Given that most donors are local members of the UChicago community, the selection includes many academic books and some textbooks.
Books will be priced at 50 cents for small paperbacks, one dollar for large paperbacks and two dollars for hardcovers. Organizers have also collected several higher-priced “special books,” such as first editions of novels and unusual historical books. On Monday, remaining books will go on sale at a discount—four dollars for a bag of books and five dollars for a box.
In recent years, HPKCC has started advertising the book sale to University students. Ciacci says those efforts have helped contribute to the event’s recent success, although she admits it has been difficult to reach out to students because the event is so early in the quarter.
The book sale is the HPKCC’s signature fundraising event. Its proceeds help the organization fund its operations and projects, which include improving schools, parks, community development, safety, and transportation in Hyde Park.
Treasure Island Foods has sponsored the event for the last eight years, providing a space for the collection and storage of the book donations, as well as assistance in the transportation of books to the event.
HPKCC holds open monthly meetings, which have recently been focused on community policing issues, local public schools, and the establishment of park advisory councils for all of the Mid-South Side parks.
The event will take place at the Hyde Park Shopping Center courtyard at 55th Street and Lake Park Avenue from 9–6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. on Monday.
“We have a lot of wonderful books at really good prices, and we hope that people will come and take advantage of our sale. We will be there rain or shine,” Ciacci said.
