The Book Rescuers started 3.5 years ago, when the libraries were still closed due to COVID, and George Brooks found himself standing in a driveway with 800 books he acquired from an Amazon seller. The books were en route to the dump before George intervened. Books ought to be rehomed or repurposed, not tossed, so cue Book Rescue, George’s passion project turned full-time occupation. The Book Rescuers new location at 8325 Ulmerton Road will open in the fall; it’s currently located at 10410 66th St. N., Pinellas Park.
George tells me that a ridiculous tonnage of books are destined for the dump. Hardcovers especially. Covers must be removed before recycling, but large institutions don’t have the resources to remove them. Dumping is costly for institutions as well. This is where Book Rescue comes in. “They save money. We rehome books. And the community gets cheap books,” says George. “It’s a win, win, win.”
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Currently, George saves and/or recycles approximately 4 tons of books per week. But this wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of the community, who donated $16,000 to date, allowing George and Book Rescue to build out their new location.
You can donate to the cause here. In appreciation of your donation, your name will be laser etched into an art installation displayed on location.
“This is the most rewarding work I’ve ever done”
Book Rescuers’ new location has an accumulative 1.2 miles of shelves, consisting of every imaginable book genre. There’s a 60-seat reading lounge, 16 craft beers on tap, and a coffee and tea bar. A stage is available for authors and musicians to perform, and an educational room for children.
“This is the most rewarding work I’ve ever done,” says George. “Hands down…we are 100% percent confident in what we are doing.”
While waiting for the new location to open, the first 1,000 pre-launch subscribers will only pay a $30 annual fee, instead of $60. After the initial 1,000 subscribers, all other pre-launch subscribers will pay $40. While subscriptions are encouraged money-savers, non-subscribers are welcome. For non-subscribers, kid’s books are $1, paperbacks $2, and hardcovers $3.
The cost breakdown is not comprehensive. Book Rescuers provides additional deals and services for educators, bulk buys, birthdays, and more. Check directly with the staff for further details.
See more beautiful bookstores across Tampa Bay here.
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