Kinsey Institute sells unwanted books

Naked bodies graced the covers of many books sold at the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction’s book sale Wednesday.

“We have not had one in three years, so this is pretty exciting for us,” said Shawn Wilson, library public services manager.

He said the Kinsey Institute used to organize book sales each year. The institute receives donations and sells the books it already owns or doesn’t want.

“The added benefit is it does help bring awareness to the Kinsey Institute,” Wilson said.

Book prices ranged from free to $3, and all revenue went straight to the Kinsey Institute’s library, which does not receive any money from the state.

The books were separated into categories, such as nonfiction sex and culture and counseling. Books included “Sex over 50” and “The Illustrated Guide to Better Sex for People with Chronic Pain.”

“Playboy” magazines were on sale for 25 cents each, and “Cosmopolitan” magazines were free.

In the first two and a half hours, about 50 people stopped by, Wilson said. In the past, hundreds of people showed up for the sale.

Sue Hobbs from England was visiting family and said she had studied Alfred Kinsey’s work in the 1980s when working toward her bachelor’s degree.

She said there is more access to places like the Kinsey Institute in the U.S. than in England.

Junior Meredith Davis, a human sexuality and psychology student, is an intern at the Kinsey Institute.

She said IU students are lucky to have access to the institute.  Her interests include older views on love, sex and marriage.

“I’ve always been interested in that, and this is the place to do it,” she said.

Senior psychology student Brittany Tampkins  originally went to the Kinsey Institute to read a book that could only be found at the library and decided to browse the selection.

She purchased a few books about prostitution, homosexuality, and culture and sexual habits.

“I’m excited to read it,” she said. “I got, like, seven books for six bucks, so it’s pretty exciting.”

The sale will continue until Friday.