Historical society's paperback exchange to celebrate 15th anniversary
NORWICH – The public is invited to visit Chenango County Historical Society's Paperback Exchange between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 15 to join in celebrating the 15th anniversary of the paperback exchange's founding.
Located beside the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) at 77 Silver Street, the paperback exchange was founded as a non-profit in September 2003 as a means of establishing a cash income for the historical society.
Since 2003, the paperback exchange has offered secondhand books at bargain prices to both members and non-members. The exchange is run entirely by volunteers, and all proceeds after paying the bills to keep the property functioning are donated to the historical society.
The idea is simple: customers can donate a book of their own to receive 50 percent of the book's listing price in paperback exchange credit. The credit can then be used to purchase books at the exchange at a discounted price––most of which end up costing less than a dollar.
Those who do not have store credit are still able to purchase books at half the listing price at the paperback exchange.
In an article penned by former CCHS President and Chenango County Historian Dale Storms, he said the idea of a paperback exchange came from the success of former Norwich bookstore First Edition's own paperback exchange, coupled with the society's need to pay the bills during hard times.
Storms credits then CCHS Director Dave Drucker with turning the idea into reality as he envisioned transforming 77 Silver Street – then a workshop – into the society's own paperback exchange.
"To get ready to open we needed books," wrote Storms. "I bought a collection from someone who advertised in the Pennysaver as a starting inventory. I soon learned that wasn't necessary, and getting books would never, ever be a problem."
Storms said as people learned of the paperback exchange in 2003, it was soon inundated with books stacked to the ceiling of 77 Silver Street. The problem, if considered a problem at all, persists today under the management of Helen Capaccio and Ann Holbert.
"Sometimes it's hard to find places to put them," said Capaccio.
Holbert added, "We have to weed them out sometimes because we run out of space."
In his article, Storms said there were times he second guessed if the paperback exchange was a good idea.
"We went on staffed by volunteers and earned money, but not huge amounts for a couple of years. I was discouraged because I was used to much more income at our bookstore," said Storms.
But CCHS Treasurer at the time, Tom Knapp, told him, "It may not be thousands, but it is the only cash we have, it is paying all the expenses for 77 Silver, and has saved us time and time again."
15 years later, the paperback exchange remains in operation with thousands of books available by authors the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, John Kellerman, Debbie Macomber, and many, many more.
Its books are separated by a number of genres including Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies, books organized by season, books about Upstate New York, and more.
The paperback exchange is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In summer months, it is also open Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, contact Chenango Historical Society's Paperback Exchange at (607) 336-1515.
Located beside the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) at 77 Silver Street, the paperback exchange was founded as a non-profit in September 2003 as a means of establishing a cash income for the historical society.
Since 2003, the paperback exchange has offered secondhand books at bargain prices to both members and non-members. The exchange is run entirely by volunteers, and all proceeds after paying the bills to keep the property functioning are donated to the historical society.
The idea is simple: customers can donate a book of their own to receive 50 percent of the book's listing price in paperback exchange credit. The credit can then be used to purchase books at the exchange at a discounted price––most of which end up costing less than a dollar.
Those who do not have store credit are still able to purchase books at half the listing price at the paperback exchange.
In an article penned by former CCHS President and Chenango County Historian Dale Storms, he said the idea of a paperback exchange came from the success of former Norwich bookstore First Edition's own paperback exchange, coupled with the society's need to pay the bills during hard times.
Storms credits then CCHS Director Dave Drucker with turning the idea into reality as he envisioned transforming 77 Silver Street – then a workshop – into the society's own paperback exchange.
"To get ready to open we needed books," wrote Storms. "I bought a collection from someone who advertised in the Pennysaver as a starting inventory. I soon learned that wasn't necessary, and getting books would never, ever be a problem."
Storms said as people learned of the paperback exchange in 2003, it was soon inundated with books stacked to the ceiling of 77 Silver Street. The problem, if considered a problem at all, persists today under the management of Helen Capaccio and Ann Holbert.
"Sometimes it's hard to find places to put them," said Capaccio.
Holbert added, "We have to weed them out sometimes because we run out of space."
In his article, Storms said there were times he second guessed if the paperback exchange was a good idea.
"We went on staffed by volunteers and earned money, but not huge amounts for a couple of years. I was discouraged because I was used to much more income at our bookstore," said Storms.
But CCHS Treasurer at the time, Tom Knapp, told him, "It may not be thousands, but it is the only cash we have, it is paying all the expenses for 77 Silver, and has saved us time and time again."
15 years later, the paperback exchange remains in operation with thousands of books available by authors the likes of Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, John Kellerman, Debbie Macomber, and many, many more.
Its books are separated by a number of genres including Romance, Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Biographies, books organized by season, books about Upstate New York, and more.
The paperback exchange is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. In summer months, it is also open Wednesdays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, contact Chenango Historical Society's Paperback Exchange at (607) 336-1515.
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