Library Friends Bookstore: Great Reads in Julian

Jeanne Katzowicz and Julie Olfe in the bookstore run by the Friends of the Julian Library. All money earned in the bookstore will be used to enlarge the library's collection according to Olfe. Photo by Amber Ward

By Bobbi Zane

If you’ve been trying to find an afternoon to browse Barnes & Noble or Borders Books & Music for a current good read, I’ve got news.

You might find the book you want right here in Julian at the used bookstore, tucked into a corner of the new library. The shop, operated by members of the Friends of the Library to benefit the library, holds a wealth of great reads.

While the collection of books, donated by local residents, roams the world, “we have strong collections of biography and history,” said Julie Olfe, who, with Jeanne Katzowicz, manages day-to-day store operations.

“Right now we have a large collection of vintage cookbooks, containing old-fashioned recipes from the 1950s and 1960s,” Olfe said.

In addition, the store contains travel, gardening, current fiction, and usually a good selection of children’s books — plus the occasional valuable first edition.

Most books sell for $3 or less and all are attractive and in good condition. Olfe and Katzowicz see to that.

“We clean every single book before we put it on the shelf,” Olfe said. Donated books frequently come with stains, marks or musty smells, she said, suggesting that nobody would buy used books that don’t look new.

The two women also review the content of the books.

“We can’t use certain books that are too old,” Olfe said, citing the Sunset do-it-yourself books published in the 1970s and textbooks published before 2000. The team also evaluates each book for quality and value, checking prices where appropriate at www.amazon.com or on e-Bay.

The bookstore is a fundraising effort. It replaces the annual book sales the Friends previously held in Town Hall. So far, it’s been more productive, according to Friends treasurer Nancy Hall, who announced in the group’s latest newsletter, “So far the new store has already made $2,506 in the six months since we opened. Less work and more profit.”

The most recent book sale generated $2,257 and required long hours of volunteer work to produce.

If you have books to donate, Olfe cautioned, check with the bookstore first to see if the books meet the guidelines.

If you’re looking for something good to read, drop by the bookstore located 2133 4th Street, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.