WRITTEN BY CHERYL WELLS
So happy to be able to talk about the newest addition in Downtown Le Mars that is just opening in May. Second Chapter – Gently Used Books is downtown right next door to Habitué Coffeehouse & Bakery at 104 Central Ave. NE. This is a building that we bought about seven years ago from a lawyer in Le Mars. We purchased the building to add onto Habitué but we only used the back part of the building to expand our kitchen. That kitchen space has now been converted to Mama Barb’s Catering. The law office stayed open for another 5 years in the front on Central and he closed two years ago. We have been waiting to see how we could use the storefront to bring something needed downtown. We have loved partnering over the years with the Le Mars Library and they have a newly redone beautiful library space also downtown. The Friends of the Library will operate this new space called Second Chapter – Gently Used Books to create a welcoming space, promote literacy, and foster the love of reading. All the profits will help support the Le Mars Public Library.
I have really enjoyed working with Mary Albrecht who is the treasurer of the Friends group. We have been working together over the years, and they have been running a used bookstore in another location in Le Mars that we own. As we continued to think about the open space that we had on Central it seemed like it would be a good fit and everyone loves a bookstore! The front of the store needed totally redone and so we ripped the front off and reconstructed it with new windows and a new door. We wanted it to be really open and inviting with lots of light coming in. It was really fun to work with Mary and her committee choosing colors and logo and interior furnishings. We did some special things like custom made bookshelves and a designer ceiling, as well as beautiful hard wood flooring. I love books and I love the library, so this was a really fun project for me.
I interviewed Mary to get more details, and she shared that she has been a part of the Friends of the Le Mars Public Library since 2018. She was at a transition stage in life and was praying about it and she told God to just show her. Literally the next day someone walked up to her and told her that the Friends needed more members and they both were book lovers and went to the library often, so she went to check it out and has been involved ever since. Mary has been a big reader since she was a kid and loved reading to her kids from the time that they were very little. She shared that for a long time she was only reading to her kids and with them. A regret for her was that she didn’t read more back then for her own enjoyment.
Mary has been the treasurer for over 6 years and during Covid also stepped into leading the book sale business. The book sale is one way that the Friends Group raises money to support programs for the library that are outside of the budget, like the Summer Reading Program, Books for Treats, Santa at the Library, as well as the Winter and Fall Reading for adults and kids. She said that they get to fund the fun stuff!
In 2019 the book sale started as a pop-up sale, and it went pretty well. During Covid things shut down completely and then in 2021 they had a grab bag sale where they put so many books in each bag and the whole bag went for $5 and they sold about $1500 worth in a couple days. We had an old building that was not the best but it was empty, and it worked for their book sales and so in late 2021 they started doing the event there and it was good because it would be a place that they could set up and leave the books there, as well as take the collections that came in and store them there. They used it for sales 3-4 times a year and would raise about 1200-1700 each time. It worked out that at these sales they would average about $100 an hour for books that might be $1 to $3 a piece. There will be a really nice space for children’s books where they can get comfortable and choose what they like. Families are not only welcome but wanted, and there is a nice new restroom really close to the children’s section.
We are so happy to be able to provide the new space at no cost to the Friends Group so that we have a used bookstore downtown and that it’s for a great cause. Books will range from $1 for some kids books to maybe $2 tops. Hard covered books will be $4 and soft covers $3. Hot, trending books might be priced higher but most books under $5. The store will be run by volunteers and all proceeds go the Le Mars Public Library. Hours of operation for now will be Thursday 3PM-7PM, Friday 10AM-5PM, and Saturdays 10AM-3PM. Danni Love is the President of the Friends of The Le Mars Public Library. Come check it out and stop by Habitue’ Coffeehouse & Bakery that is right next door, as well as the Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor across the street.
