Many students at the high school recognize the Brookline Public Library as a nearby study spot and a place to check out free books for a limited time. However, a few dollars can unlock a treasure trove of offerings at book sales hosted by Friends of the Brookline Public Library, a nonprofit organization that seeks to enrich the library’s offerings.
The Friends of the Brookline Public Library’s annual book sale ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27 in Hunneman Hall at the Brookline Village branch. The funds from the book sale are allocated toward supporting staff development courses and programs at the library.
Judith Clark is the coordinator of the book sale and has lived in Brookline for 27 years. One of her favorite aspects of managing the book sale is connecting patrons with literature they might not find otherwise.
“I like it when people find books that they’re interested in,” Clark said. “Somebody had given us their whole collection of poetry books… I came in one day and [a young woman] was really carefully browsing through the poetry, and I said, ‘Oh, you like poetry?’ She said, ‘I’m a poet.’ She was absolutely delighted to find this stash of poetry books.”
Amie Buchman is in charge of managing the book sale’s children’s collection, and is a retired kindergarten and 1st grade teacher from the Pierce School. As a volunteer in several programs in the Greater Boston area, she said she appreciates how the book sale is flexible
“Personally, it’s convenient because I can make my own hours,” Buchman said. “I can just come over here and sort books or organize books or put books out as needed.”
Visitor Olivia Almon said she passed by the book sale while walking her dog and decided to stop by.
“I always have a long list of books I want to read,” Almon said. “I’m always looking to spend as little money as possible, and I’m looking for used books so that I don’t add to the waste that we have in society.”
Clark said that the book sale is a worthwhile visit for young people because they can find classic and niche titles that are otherwise difficult to access at traditional bookstores.
“There are books in print, which can be found in all new bookshops. They all have the same books, because that’s what’s in print,” Clark said. “We have books that are out of print. We have books that are 100 or 150 years old. I think that young people should come and look at that stuff, because it’s not available in a new bookshop.”
