The Bookshop. Where else could you find — and purchase — good reading material at a very reasonable price?

Located at the south entrance of the La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St., the Bookshop is there for your perusal, thanks to several volunteers drawn from the ranks of Friends of the Library. Most are senior citizens.

Betty Kendrick has been a volunteer at the Friends of the Library Bookshop at La Crosse Public Library since it opened in 1997. PETER THOMSON photo

Among volunteers are Sandy Sechrest, who manages the shop, and Betty Kendrick, who coordinates the monthly schedule of volunteers who sign up to operate the shop in two-hour blocks. Volunteers help customers and collect money from sales.

Sechrest and Kendrick aren’t ones who easily accept individual credit. Unselfishly, they credit each other for the Bookshop’s success. But they do agree that their supporting cast of about 55 is the backbone of the shop’s continued success to help those who love books and the adventure of reading.

The Bookshop was founded in 1996 to provide the ongoing sale of materials culled from the shelves at the main library and North Side and South Side community branches. Book donations also come from the public.

These books first are reviewed by a library staff member to determine whether they should become part of the library’s collection. If not, they are handed off for sale at the Bookshop. Sandy selects those that would appeal to shoppers and each month highlights certain topics. Highlighted this month are science fiction, family and poetry.

What’s required to be a Bookshop volunteer? Betty says that one must join Friends of the Library (membership forms are available at the library) and commit to more than one two-hour block of time each month.

“At least two blocks of time per month is greatly appreciated,” she said.

Always seeking volunteers, she added: “There’s a calendar in the Bookshop. Available hours are listed. It’s a matter of meeting requirements, making the commitment, and writing in your name at the times you’d like to operate the shop.“

Shoppers find children’s and smaller soft-cover books for $1. Large soft-covers go for $2. Also, there are special books (some focuses are on religion, sports, health) that cost more. These prices are entered inside the cover of the book.

All Bookshop sales support the public library system’s needs. At library board meetings needs are presented. From the list of needs “Friends” decide what to support. It may be a bus tour/field trip, something for the library’s children’s room, or the sponsorship of a movie night or a poetry reading.

Why become a volunteer? Participating senior citizens gave reasons:

Shirley Johnson, who prefers working from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sundays and fills in when someone can’t make a shift: “I have volunteered since 2001. It’s a good way to meet people and also have time to read.”

Bob Honeywell, who likes Saturday work and is always available to fill in: “I like a library environment, and what the library is attempting to do to reach out to meet the needs of our community. I have met very nice people. It is a pleasant way to spend some time.”

Lorraine McIlraith, who volunteers four hours a month: “I like to play store, and books have always been treasured in my family. It’s just a nice thing to do, and the people I meet are so interesting.”

Husband and wife Dale and Karen Montgomery: “It’s a good opportunity to connect with the community in a very nice setting. It is a way for us to help the library. Also, we both read a lot, so this is a way to increase our reading availability.”

Not all volunteers are senior citizens. An example is Nick Henderson, a Central High School junior.

“I got the idea to volunteer from my mom, who is a reference librarian,” he said. “I like being around books and libraries. It’s actually fun because I get to meet cool people. And I like the employee discount.”

Betty explained that Bookshop volunteers can make purchases at half price.

She also announced that volunteers are recognized annually at a brunch whether they serve more than 100 hours a year — it begins April 1 and ends March 31 — or a few two-hour blocks of time.

The next recognition brunch is from 10:30 a.m. to noon this Thursday in the library auditorium.

Betty concluded: “You know, our Bookshop is not unique to libraries, but our quality of books can’t be beat. That’s because of Sandy’s dedication as manager.”

Contact Larry Olson at larry.olson@lacrossetribune.com or address mail to him at La Crosse Tribune, 401 N. Third St., La Crosse, WI 54601.

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