Old books, new readers

Books are important to all of us. They provide education, self-help and entertainment. People love to read, but let's face it: One can only hold on to so many books. Boxes packed with books fill the attic. Sagging shelves hold books that are no longer read. What can be done with the overload? Lodi has a variety of options for those wanting to share their abundance with others.

The Lodi Public Library has a bookstore that is staffed by the Friends of the Lodi Public Library. The store carries approximately 500 books on the shelves, with extras in the back.

"I think it is a well-kept secret. We'd like people to know this is here," said Janet Berreth, president of the Friends of the Lodi Public Library.

The bookstore will accept just about everything except for legal books or medical magazines. Any books that can't be used, Berreth said, are donated to the shelter at the Salvation Army, to Lodi House or to Lodi Memorial Hospital.

Berreth said the Friends of the Lodi Public Library found out about other friends' organizations who had bookstores. In 2003, Nancy Martinez, library services director, suggested they clean out the library's storage room, which then became the store.

"The alternative is to have a massive booksale," said Martinez. "My experience is that those sales don't reap anymore than a bookstore does all year around."

A variety of paper backs and hard cover books, audio books, videos, CDs and bookbags are sold at the bookstore. Both fiction and non-fiction books are sold and some of the more popular authors are Danielle Steele, John Grisham, Tom Clancy and Sue Grafton. Berreth said the book most donated is "The Da Vinci Code."

About 40 volunteers staff the bookstore, who often help people requesting certain books. The volunteers write down the person's name and the title of the book they are requesting. They will then call that person when the book comes in.

Used book store hours

• Library bookstore — Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tom's Used Books — Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
• Great Escapes Bookstore — Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Thursday through Saturday from 3 to 5:30 p.m.
• The Book Lady — Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Goodwill — Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Prices at the bookstore range from 25 cents for paperbacks and from $1 to $5 for hard backs. Paperbacks are also sold in the library lobby for 10 cents.

Approximately $1,000 to $1,500 a month is collected from the book sales, said Berreth. Money recieved from those sales benefits progams for children such as the puppet shows, story times and the teen programs. Other programs that benefit from proceeds are the adult summer reading program and events such as the Harry Potter party.

"I think (the bookstore) is wonderful. It has turned out better than I thought it would," said Berreth.

Tom Kohlhepp, owner of Tom's Used Books, said he carries about 45,000 books in a wide variety. Some of the more popular books are by Nora Roberts, James Patterson and Janet Evanovich. Some children's books he carries include "Curious George" and all of the Newbery winners. He also carries books that are required for highschoolers, such as "Catcher in the Rye," "Lord of the Flies" and "To Kill a Mockingbird." Another book that is sold regularly is "Pirateology," which sells for $20.

Kohlhepp said after being in business for seven years, he came up with a formula for buying and selling used books. He first figures how much the book is worth, either $6 to $8 for hard back or from $1 to $3.50 for soft backs. The seller has a choice of either store credit, which is half of what the book is worth, or cash, which is a quarter of what the store credit would be.

He said not all the books that come in the door are accepted, depending on the condition. Books that are not accepted include those that have a twisted spine, those that smell of smoke, those that are yellowed, and those with the jacket missing or worn corners. He said many people will bring in books that they have had around for many years and just want to get rid of them. However, if the books fall into those categories, they will not be accepted.

When he can't accept the books, Kohlhepp said he tells people to drop them off at the library.

"The goal is to have books be gift quality," he said.

Great Escapes Bookstore offers a two for one trade policy. Owner Lisa Saiprasert, said people will sell back books which were purchased from her store and they are offered 25 percent of the original publisher's price.

She said she doesn't accept books that have been stored in a basement that might have mold on then. The pages must not be ripped and they must be in a reasonably good shape. For those just wishing to get rid of books, she suggests giving them to Goodwill or to retirement homes.

"A lot of people overlook the retirement homes. A lot of them don't have the means to get to bookstores," she said.

She said best sellers in her store include authors Nicholas Sparks, Dean Koontz, Fern Michaels and Danielle Steele.

Sylvia Riveral, manager at Goodwill, said she will accept all books that are donated. Books there sell at 50 cents for paper backs and $1 for the hard backs. She said cookbooks are the best sellers.

"My cookbooks don't stay on the shelves at all," she said.

Reader Feedback

nylodian wrote on Aug 9, 2007 9:09 AM:

" I am glad Lodi has different options for fellow bibliophiles. I have found an awesome book swap site: bookins.com. Since I belong to a local book club, I had once-read books piling up on me and this site has solved my problem plus I have been able to get current best sellers for $3.99. Yay! "

Report Abuse

Comments on this story are now closed.

Archives

Story Tools

Indexes