Unknown to many, a used bookstore has been operating in the Malibu Library since it re-opened in April.
By Jimy Tallal / Special to The Malibu Times
The Malibu Library reopened to great fanfare on Earth Day with $5.7 million in renovations and a wide array of state-of-the-art features, making it more tempting than ever to breeze by and check out a book on loan. But what many may not know is there is also a place in the new facility where people can go and buy books for keeps.
The “Friends of the Malibu Library” (FOML), a non-profit group formed in 1978 to support the local public library, has sold used books for decades to help raise money for special events, programs and purchases. However, until the library renovation, they never had more than one rack of used books for sale in the library, and their big fundraiser was the Annual Book Fair.
With the recent renovation of the Malibu Public Library, a used book store within the library has now been constructed just inside the front door; giving FOML its very own space inside the building for the first time in its 34-year history.
“When they decided to re-do the library, they decided to allocate space for a Friends of the Library Book Store,” said FOML President Kathy Sullivan.
The new store gives the group almost 15 times more shelf space than it had before.
Open seven days a week during normal library hours, the store carries an inventory of 4,000 to 5,000 hardback and paperback books, books on tape, computer games, CDs and DVDs. All are priced at 50 cents or a dollar each. Customers can even get a FOML logo reusable shopping bag for two dollars.
Shelves are frequently re-stocked from inventory kept in the organization’s storage areas, and volunteers try to ensure new and interesting selections in all categories, ranging from fiction, to foreign language, cookbooks and “how to” books. The store is staffed entirely by FOML members and volunteers, and all proceeds support the library.
Helen Zoloth, a Board member of FOML, said that fewer people than expected have come into the new bookstore since the library re-opened, because “no one seems to know about it.”
Susan Kelly and Stephanie Richardson, both volunteers, say that fiction and mystery books are the most popular with customers, and that the store also takes requests from customers looking for a particular book. They say locals come by daily to drop off and donate used books. In fact, some bring so many, they need assistance getting them all in from the parking lot.
Kelly and Richardson both laughed that they usually leave the bookstore with more than they came with each week, because they end up buying a few books for themselves.
FOML, which currently has 300 members, typically raises $20,000 per year for the Malibu Library. The money helps stretch the library’s budget for summer reading programs, events, story time, books, reference materials, periodicals, speakers and audiovisual equipment. The organization’s support has been especially important to the library during times of budget cuts.
The bookstore currently has 15 volunteers, but “we can always use more volunteers” and “we encourage donations of any kind,” said Sullivan. Bookstore volunteers need to be members of FOML and able to work three or four hours a week.
Those wishing to donate items are welcome to bring gently used books, CDs, DVDs, computer games and videos to the bookstore during normal library hours. Donations are tax deductible.
Sullivan said FOML hasn’t decided yet whether it will be holding its Annual Book Fair this October, “because for the period of time the library was closed for renovations we weren’t accepting donations, so now we’re building up our inventory.” The main library was closed for renovations from September 2010 until April 2012.
The FOML website encourages people to try the new bookstore: “Pick up inexpensive copies of your children’s summer-reading books, cookbooks, gardening guides, or the best sellers you missed last season. Meet your Malibu neighbors who serve as volunteers to staff the bookstore.”