Every year the Friends of the Library carry, categorize, and sell hundreds of books in the Used Book Store. All of their efforts culminate in a generous annual donation to the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library. This year, the Friends presented a check for $30,000 to Joanna Breen, executive director of the library. These funds help the library to purchase new books and provide the variety of programs offered throughout the year.   

“The money that is raised by the volunteers of the Friends of the Library is nothing short of amazing. The time and effort that it takes to haul, sort, assess, price, and stock the generous flow of book donations is no small task. Their work and commitment make so many Library activities possible,” says Breen.

The volunteers work hard during the season, typically from late April through mid-October, to organize the many donations of used books, CDs, and DVDs they receive, and to man the Used Book Store during open hours.  It isn’t all work though, as many will tell you that they enjoy the opportunity to engage with the visitors who stop by the store to shop and explore.  There are many repeat customers, folks who visit our area every year and, of course, the locals.  One family who comes every summer told a volunteer that the bookstore is their first stop to stock up on books for everyone to enjoy during their stay.  Another admitted that they may have bought back some books they donated in prior years!  If you are a book lover, then you get it. 

The Friends of the Library is an entirely volunteer-run 501(c)(3) organization that operates the Used Book Store, located in the old Hyde House next to the library.

The bookstore porch will be full of books again for the 2024 season in mid-April. The Bookstore will be open beginning in early May. Until then, they ask that people hold their donations, as there’s no space to process or store them. Once reopened, the bookstore will gratefully accept donations of gently used books, DVDs, and CDs. They cannot display or sell old textbooks, encyclopedias, or dictionaries, pre-2005 travel guides and atlases, or torn, soiled or musty books, all of which need to go to the dump.