Audubon Library to begin construction of used bookstore
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Amherst Library Director Roseanne Butler-Smith stands in the storeroom in the Audubon Library, which will become a used bookstore. The store will rely solely on donations and volunteers for operation.

The Amherst Libraries hold approximately eight used-book sales every year.

However, starting this fall, those sales will be accompanied by an ongoing sale housed in the libraries' main Audubon branch at 350 John James Audubon Parkway, Amherst.

"The Clarence Library has a used bookstore that is 100 percent staffed by Friends of the Clarence Library," said Amherst Library Director Roseanne Butler Smith. "There's a big storeroom that's just collecting different things, and I thought that would make a great space for a used book store."

Butler-Smith noted that the library receives daily donations from the public for the book sales, so a more permanent fixture makes fiscal sense, as long as it's staffed by volunteers.

"People really love the used-book sales and we have fantastic donations," she said. She noted that, like the individual book sales, the bookstore would be a fundraiser for library programs, supplies and giveaways at all branches of the Amherst library system.

The bookstore, however, will not replace the book sales, said Butler- Smith.

"I foresee maybe one or two fewer book sales," she said. "We receive more donations than the bookstore could ever hold."

Besides books, the store will hold all donated materials, including magazines, bookmarks, note cards and library bags.

The idea for the store has been approved by both the Library Board and the Amherst Town Board. Butler-Smith hopes to have the construction completed and the store open by the end of October or beginning of November.

"The biggest thing is we need a door so that there is a separate entrance into the room," Butler Smith said. "Then there's flooring, shelving and some work with the ceiling. It's going to have a nice look."

Funding for the project is being drawn from previous book sales. Visitors to the Audubon branch will notice the construction over the next few weeks, Butler-Smith said.

After construction is completed, the next big obstacle will be finding volunteers to run the store.

"It's great for anyone who wants to get out of the house for two or three hours during the winter," Butler-Smith said. "They can bring their own reading material or knitting, and it's not a lot of standing or physical activity, like some of our programs."

Butler-Smith noted that she would like the bookstore to have the same hours as the library, which totals about 60 hours per week, including weekends.

"The only way the store can be open is with volunteers," she said. "It's just not cost-effective any other way."

In addition to providing funds for the many programs the Amherst libraries offer, the money raised at the bookstore would go to help pay for the refurbishing of libraries. Recent and upcoming projects include the updating of the children's and young adult areas of the Clearfield and Audubon branches.

Anyone interested in volunteering to work in the bookstore or for more information, call Librarian Mary O'Donnel at 689-4922.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com