I thought you might have some pre-conceived notions of what the Book Thing looks like, sort of a combination of the book store in Notting Hill and the local Borders... but it's the polar opposite of both. A few years ago, they relocated from the basement of an old townhouse in mid-town to an unheated and uncooled warehouse in a semi-sketchy section of Baltimore.
There's a drop-off point where the books are taken in and reviewed. They end up selling about .02% of the books they're given, usually first editions and rare books, and the income from the sales provides operating cash for the operation. To prevent other people from selling the free books, they're all stamped "This is a Free Book. Not for sale".
Bookshelves line all of the walls, and in the main section of the warehouse, there are long rows of shelves. The books are categorized according to very broad guidelines and the Dewey Decimal System is non-existent! Titles and authors are not alphabetized, so if you're looking for a specific biography or law book, you have to search through every title.
It is the randomness of it that makes it all the more fun. You can't go in looking for something specific, you just take what you find.
The Book Thing - it's a good thing!
26 comments:
Looks like a great way to spend the afternoon!!!!!
Nothing like what I imagined it to be. It is so vast!
House... I went back and measured. It's 6,955 square feet.
Oh the joy - so many books! Thanks for the info. on naturally drying your clothes.
I love that you took photos of it! What an amazingly fun outing it would be.
i totally had it pictured as a cramped little bookshop, walls stacked to the ceiling with leather bound books- complete with a book store cat and a staff that would make you a cup of tea while you browsed...
i was a little off, wasn't i?
if I lived near Baltimore, this would become a habit - as it is, I don't have room for any more books! Such fun to go up and down the aisles and then stumble upon a gem.
M21... believe me, Russell is no Hugh Grant, either!
I love that you showed this to everyone! It really is sort of a....well.....diamond in the rough. That was interesting to hear that it used to be in someone's basement!
It can be really frustrating, the lack of organization, but also exciting - you never know what treasures you will come across!!!
PS -your photos make it look even nicer than it is, without the context of the neighborhood - and i've never seen it so empty inside!!
PS -doesn't this look like how 'maggie prescott' wanted the bookstore to look like in 'funny face'?
Sometimes the best places are those that are out of the way and a bit rough around the edges!
Meg - thanks for showing us - I was curious!
Be... we were there at about 9:30 on Sunday morning. I think that it's a lot more crowded on Saturdays because of the Farmers' Market around the corner.
Do you know if they continually restock the shelves -or do they get picked over entirely over the whole weekend? I've always gone on a saturday afternoon and it's seemed sort of totally picked over -maybe Sunday is the best time to go when it's quieter and less likely to get picked over over the day?
Be... they constantly re-stock the shelves. You can see volunteers walking around pushing grocery carts full of books. They may re-stock for an hour or two after they close on Saturday. Sat morning is the worst time to go, since everyone goes to the market and then treks over to BT.
C'mon up on a Sunday morning, go to the big market with us, then to breakfast and finally to BT!
It's a fantastic place. I've never heard of anything else like it.
Thanks for being such a great tour guide and taking me there when I was in Baltimore.
This looks great! I'm going to check it out. The hubs and I will be in Baltimore in the Autumn to do a tango workshop...
VV... let me know when you're in B-more! And remember, BT's only open on the weekends.
Yes, thanks for showcasing this. An absolute "must visit" spot.
I also was picturing Notting Hill. Had no idea it is so vast. But I love the graphic appeal of the rows and rows of colorful spines and it would be an adventure to hunt for treasures here!
You measured the Book Thing? You are a thorough reporter.
By the way, if there's anyone out there who'd like to make a non-book donation to the Book Thing you can do it here.
Jules... you didn't see me out there on my hands and knees with my little measuring tape?
Thanks for putting the donation link!
Whoa - really? this is it? I imagined some dark, dank place - not like this at all! haha!!! The Book Place - finally!
Joni
Still looks beautiful to me! Free books! Imagine being able to raid the library...
WOW, a place with free books. That's so great! Great concept! It's like disneyland for book lovers :)
Oh my gosh, that is amazing! FREE books?!?!? What a fabulous idea!!!
Post a Comment