Brant’s Used Books has 25,000 books for sale at three day event
Katrina Carlin/Catalyst Stacks on stacks on stacks.

Brant’s Used Books has 25,000 books for sale at three day event

Katrina Carlin/Catalyst
Stacks on stacks on stacks.

New College students are not often seen without a book, and now no one will have to be caught bookless again. From Friday, Nov. 30 to Sunday, Dec. 2, Brant’s Used Books will be holding a book sale with over 25,000 books up for grabs.

Brant’s Used Books opened in 1956. The current owner, Barbara Barone, is a charismatic book-lover who was more than happy to talk about the store, and the sale.

“I’ve moved the store three times,” Barone explained. “The books being sold in the sale are the books that kept getting packed because I thought I would want them to bring on the shelves. The pile just kept growing! I have a storage room that is 1,000 square feet and it’s currently floor-to-ceiling with books.”

The 25,000 books being sold are not currently on the shelves in the store, which is overflowing as is with over 100,000 books.

Barone hopes that the sale will help connect the books sitting in storage with a loving home. “I want them to be read, loved and enjoyed,” Barone said. “Books need love.”  

The store will also benefit from the sale. “It’s kind of a fundraiser,” Barone said. “The store has some hurricane damage on the roof that has a temporary fix, and I also have some building maintenance to keep up on.”

Fixing the roof is a priority to protect her books, but Barone also wants to clear out her storage room. “I would love to have an event area and cafe,” Barone said, “in addition to the garden.” The garden, where the sale will be held, is a wide expanse of grass and concrete behind the store that Barone has begun filling with some planters and other decorations.

As for the sale, “the prices are really good,” Barone said. “There’s going to be a lot of digging to do, but all of the books are in good shape because they’ve been packed so nicely.”

Genres include mostly non-fiction, poetry and selections of classic literature. The book sale is just the start of a slew of projects Barone is taking on to continue expanding Brant’s Books’s presence in the community.

 

Barone is seeking volunteers (three-hour minimum) for the event, who will be required to do sorting but no lifting. Volunteers will receive free books for their time. She is also seeking paid workers for the event (must be comfortable lifting heavy boxes). Contact brantsbooks@gmail.com if interested.

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