I wrote this guide last year, but it’s still pretty relevant if you’re heading down to this weekend’s National Library Book Sale (July 10-11).

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Here are four easy ways to ensure you’re a happy customer at the annual NLB Book Sale:

#1 Leave the kids at home! Book hunters aren’t any more civilised than bargain hunters, even if they’re parents. Hoarders, shovers, spitters — they’re all there. Your kids are better off not breathing the same air as this lot.

#2 Know what you’re looking for. Keep a list of authors in your head — e.g. Mem Fox, Shirley Hughes, Beatrix Potter for fiction and Mike Venezia and Diana Hutts Aston for non-fiction. And of course, the Caldecott winners (these are the easiest to spot; just look out for a gold/silver medal on the cover).

#3 Buy what you need NOW. Trust me, what you don’t need right now will not get read. Ever.

#4 Pack, don’t stack! I’ve found a lot of books at sales after I took it upon myself to arrange everything into neat rows with spines facing up. If you’re lucky, others will start helping too. Just try not to burst into song.

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I was at last year’s sale for about two hours and I got 12 tot books in all, found 4 out of 5 of the authors mentioned above, plus other gems like this Caldecott-winning book based on the ‘92 LA race riots, about a smoky night of violence and mayhem, ending in a friendship between an African American family, a Korean grocer, and two bickering cats. Here’s to more good finds at this year’s sale!

*This article is contributed by Evelyn of Thebottomsupblog.com; photo courtesy timtom.ch

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