For years, members of the Friends of the Athens-Clarke County Library talked about reopening the library store—a small space off the snack area—which had been closed for five years. After weeks of cleaning the store and then stocking the shelves with donated books, artwork, puzzles, CDs and other cool stuff, the store held a soft opening June 28.
Volunteer Mike Buchholz has selected and priced vintage books, which have been very popular with customers, as have children’s books, beach reads and young adult books. Prices range from 50 cents to $20.
The goal of the store, like the fall and spring book sales, is to raise money for the Friends, who use the funds to help pay for special programs, to pay for summer reading programs at different library branches, to buy books for the library’s collection and to bring in musicians, artists and other performers, among other things. “One goal was fundraising, but we have realized an intangible benefit of the store is fostering community,” says outgoing president Rebecca Burns. “It has been moving to see people come in week after week or parents happy to be able to get books for their kids for just 50 cents.”
Sharon Davis, who owned and operated Book Bound Books in Blairsville until moving to Athens earlier this year, is responsible for the store’s set-up and look.
“We’ve been surprised by how consistent some people are, coming every week,” Burns said. She estimated that 110–120 people visit the store every day that it’s open.
The library store’s official grand opening is Saturday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. After that, it will be open those same hours on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
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