Exploring an Unconventional Toronto Bookstore: Beyond Sales, Offering a Glimpse into Alternative Life Paths
Holler at the (Used) Books! Droppin' Knowledge and Raisin' Cash at Bookends South
Asma Sahebzada, Staff Reporter
Picture this: A fellow hustling two overstuffed book bags towards the donation box outside, while inside, a woman snatches up broken-in novels and a pops-n-proud father-kid duo excitedly pick out a stack o' reads. Welcome to Bookends South, a humble used bookstore nestled cozy-like inside the Toronto Reference Library. This joint's been run by the benevolent volunteers of the Friends of the Toronto Public Library South Chapter for a whopping 25 years, all while silently slinging quality reads and rakin' in funds for public library programs.
This bad boy's got an impressive inventory: used books, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl, all priced at as low as 25 cents. It's like a treasure trove of that sweet vintage Knowledge, all at unbelievable prices. And let's not forget about the grunt work - pricing the books, handling the cash, and managing the whole shebang - it's all in a day's work for long-timer volunteer, Frank Velikonja.
When Velikonja rolls in for his nine-hour shift, he's stockin' the shelves, siftin' through donations, and jugglin' managerial tasks like schedule updates and volunteer support. As Bookends South's resident OG, he's also served as the head honcho of the Friends of the Toronto Public Library for several years.
"There's always been this fire inside me for runnin' a bookstore, for pushin' quality reads and bein' surrounded by folks who dig books," Velikonja, 64, shared about his two-decade venture into volunteer work. "The kinship is off the charts, and it's an awesome, fantastic work environment."
Ken Popert, a retired book worm, stumbled upon Bookends after perusin' the Toronto Public Library website. These days, he logs in for one weekly shift, spendin' his time sortin' through the thousands of donated tomes that flood the store every week, as well as withdrawn library books and even publisher overstock. Popert's got a sharp eye for condition and subject organization, and most books fetch a flat $1—but rare and limited-edition titles earn a blue dot sticker and a heftier price tag.
Popert's gig doesn't just bring home the bacon—it also offers a glimpse into the lives of strangers, like the time he'd find stashed cash hidden between some pages.
Every two years, Bookends hosts a major treasure sale at the library's Beeton Hall. Curious collectors can score unique reads for just 25% of their market value, all while helpin' out the cause.
The loot from these shindigs helps support diverse library programs, includin' literacy and literary activities at the Toronto Reference Library, as well as fully fundin' the Elementary School Outreach Program for kiddos.
Volunteer Amanda Cheung shares that Bookends is always on the hunt for new volunteers, takin' on folks for customer service, inventory management, and sortin' and pricin' donations. They need help organizin' special events at the library, too, and those with managerial skills should step up to fill leadership roles.
Antoinette Fracassi, a three-year Bookends veteran, handles one shift every two weeks. Her to-do list includes cash register duties, shelf tidiness, customer assistance, and oodles of book checkouts. She first encountered the store while wanderin' the library, and with 15 years of bookwork experience under her belt, she felt right at home. Nowadays, she's also lendin' her talents to the University of Toronto's John M. Kelly Library, makin' Bookends the purr-fect fit.
Fracassi's had her fair share of Bookends memories, like assistin' a couple who scooped up "hundreds of dollars' worth of books" for a charity they worked with in Jamaica. They were donatin' the books to a resource center there.
Volunteerin', she says, "keeps the heart beatin'."
"You get this richness when you volunteer 'cause of the peeps you meet and the stories you hear. It paints you a picture of another life you ain't lived."
- The Booksends South bookstore, which is situated within the Toronto Reference Library, has been operating for 25 years, constantly providing a vast selection of used books, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl at remarkably low prices.
- Frank Velikonja, a long-time volunteer, manages the day-to-day operations at Bookends South, stocking shelves, sorting donations, and juggling managerial tasks while maintaining an admiration for the camaraderie and working environment.
- Ken Popert, a retiree, volunteers weekly at Bookends South, sorting through thousands of donated books and identifying rare or limited-edition titles for a slightly higher price.
- Finding hidden cash between the pages of donated books is one of the unique experiences Popert has had during his time at Bookends South.
- Bookends South hosts major treasure sales every two years, offering discounted items to curious collectors while raising funds for diversified library programs, such as literacy and literary activities at the Toronto Reference Library.
- Amanda Cheung and Antoinette Fracassi, both volunteers at Bookends South, express the enjoyment and fulfillment they gain from their experiences, meeting various people, and hearing captivating stories, contributing to the richness of their lives.
