Bookends @ Kendall is holding a second-hand book sale on Saturday, June 2, between 10am and 2pm.
“Booklovers will have the opportunity to fill an entire shopping bag for only $5 from a wide range of books,” the founder of the bookstore, Maggie Haswell, said.
“And while they’re in Kendall, they might as well check out the antique shop and all the craft stores and make a day of it.”
This quaint little bookstore is situated in the old Batar School, next to the Kendall Hall. It was the brainchild of local resident Maggie Haswell who established the place with just a couple of tables, a few boxes of books and a kettle, back in 2007. Now it is thriving, bursting at the seams with books, as well as a popular book exchange.
“Bookends is a Community bookstore that is run entirely by volunteers and relies on book donations,” the new co-ordinator, Michelle Lopert said. “Book prices are purposely kept low because we’re a non-profit organisation and one of our aims is to encourage reading and literacy. All the money earned goes to the community centre.”
Not only is the June book sale a celebration of the store’s Fifth Year Anniversary, it is also a Renovation Sale.
After receiving a generous grant from the Kendall Op Shop in April, the bookstore is now undergoing a face-lift.
“A local handyman, David Cameron, is building us new shelves out of solid timber off-cuts. He’s very creative and skilled. And the merry workers at the Kendall Men’s Shed are lending him a hand,” Ms Lopert said. “They’re a really helpful bunch of guys and such an asset to this community.”
“Once the refurbish-ment is complete, Bookends will be able to offer lots more books, we’ll hold writers’ groups and more book clubs, someone suggested a reading group for kids. The volunteers are pretty enthusiastic and always full of ideas,” Ms Lopert said.
“But meanwhile, before the renovations start, there are hundreds of books for sale. Bargain hunters will have a field day filling their bags. Then they can spend the winter curled by the fire, nose in a book.
“So come along, bring your kids, we have tons of books for them as well. After all, this is the year of reading and what better way to get through winter than with a book.”