SKANEATELES - More than 100 people waited anxiously for the big clock on the Partner's Trust Bank to hit 6 p.m. Thursday.

At the first chime, a ribbon was cut and the 26th annual Skaneateles Library Book Sale was officially open.

"We always start on Thursday night," said event co-chair Robin Hess-Rulli, "This year we've expanded the children's section and every child gets a free book."

Colleen Hyland, the event's other co-chair, said close to 10,000 books were donated, as were four of the display tents.

Books, videos and compact discs were arranged on tables into more than 30 categories, including hobbies, art and music, biography, and large "coffee table" books.

The tents were filled with book seekers, so many that at times some aisles were blocked by human traffic jams.

Several smaller tents held children's books and paperbacks.

The books for the sale are accepted throughout the year, usually beginning in August or September. Two volunteers sort them and shortly before the sale begins, more volunteers set up the books on tables under the tents.

"I like to read all winter," said Margaret Taylor, who comes to the sale every year.

"I don't have room in my apartment for the hardcovers, so I'm going over to look at the paperbacks."

Books were carried in bags, boxes and even baby carriages to the checkout tables. A few dedicated readers were just barely able to see over the tall stacks of books they carried in their arms.

Conversations were sparked by books between both friends and strangers as people talked about what they wanted to find, or had found, at the sale. Cookbooks and recent fiction were two popular sections.

"I've been coming here for the last few years," said Jill Goldstein, who was sitting on the grass looking over several piles of children's books she was considering. "I have a 5-year-old son I'm buying for. He loves books."