Do you love books? Call me old-fashioned but I do – there is nothing quite so satisfying as going into a library or a book store and searching through the stacks for books I would like to read.

My interests are mainly cooking (no surprise as I have a food blog), gardening and biographies of women. I also will browse for a good mystery – you know the Agatha Christie type or history books on many subjects, especially American. The internet is fine for quick answers but there is nothing quite like holding a book, touching it and leafing through the pages or in many cases reading it from beginning to end. Very relaxing and something I usually find time for each day.

I am a volunteer at my local library, the Plymouth District Library in Plymouth, Michigan. It is a beautiful structure, inside and out which upon entering just welcomes you into it. Specifically, I work with the Friends of the Library with the used book sales which make up used/donated books from the community. Do you have such a “perk” in your local library?

By the way I use to be a librarian in a Federal Library where most of the books were environmentally related and under a government agency. So, volunteering in a “public library” has been a new but great library experience for me.

What do I do? I help to maintain the used (or donated) books to the library. There is a specific area when you first walk in to donate books and also where you can purchase books; softcover only $.50 and hardcover $1.00 unless there is a special sale or otherwise noted. Are you looking for DVD’s or CD’s, a good novel by Ken Follett, a classic by Mark Twain or a childrens book for your grandchildren? Or like me an old cookbook or gardening book on container gardening. This is recycling at its best!

The Friends Used Book Collection is tucked away in a corner when you first walk into the library. The donated books are removed from the bins, carted downstairs where they are sorted and shelved by the volunteers. There are 4 captains who help guide the volunteers through this process.

In my library certain items are not wanted such as magazines or computer books more than 4 years old. Of course they need to be in good condition, not torn, dirty or musty  and should be worthy of being placed in the used book sales. Some are sent to the Salvation Army or other organizations who would appreciate slightly damaged books. We always do our best to find “homes” for most donations.

Susan, the Community Relations Specialist and Robin, the Business & Resource Administrator, help to keep the library running smoothly for all the visitors.

Note the box on the left where you are on “your honor” to pay for the books you might find. This is an ongoing used book sale which provides the library with many important items such as special programs, summer reading program supplies, new book formats and building enhancements. In addition to the regular used book sale which is located in the meeting room lobby, the Friends also conduct special seasonal book sales. My library is having one the first weekend in February and I will be working two of the three days!

Here are two of my “purchases” from the Friends of the Library Used Book Collection. You can find old and new editions of many cooking and baking cookbooks. Sadly, both authors have passed away but they have left their culinary legacy for all of us to follow and enjoy.

I have 6 of Julia Child’s cookbooks; I’ve read the books Julie and Julia and “Appetite for Life” (her biography), saw the movie, “Julie and Julia” and Julia also had the same nickname as I do “Juju”. She was fondly addressed with this name as a young child by her father and for me Juju originated from a very young nephew, Denny, before he could say all his words perfectly. Aunt Judi became Aunt Juju.

Can you imagine this collection of recipes from Julia’s first television series which goes back to the 1960’s? A real treasure for me with information about a favorite chef I never knew.

Program Number One aired in Boston on February 11, 1963 when only black and white TV was available. It was also during the guilt-free era where nutrition was not such an issue as it is now. A plaque gifted to me from Gene gives one of Julia’s quotes, “If you’re afraid of butter use cream”. Her famous last words at the end of each episode of the French Chef – Bon appetit!

The Kennedys were in the White House at the time and they had a French chef, Rene’ Verdon. Traveling to Europe was easier and Americans were returning wanting to eat the French way. So, when Julia’s French cooking show first appeared with her charming charisma it appealed to many Americans as they welcomed French cuisine into their lives.

This reminds me of Thomas Jefferson, over 250 years earlier, who first helped to revolutionize American cuisine from his many trips to France and living in Paris for 5 years as Minister to France. Talk about a devoted “foodie”, Jefferson was a passionate man of many foods, wines and cooking techniques, especially from France and Italy.  His European travels definitely influenced this passion.

For an excellent history of the pioneers of this era such as Washington, Jefferson and Franklin, see “The Founding Foodies”. No, I did not get this book  from the Friends Used Book Sale but it still is a very interesting and fun book to read.

This is my first cookbook by Chef Prudhomme. I can say I bought his “Gumbo File Magic Seasoning Blend” so I must have a recipe somewhere by this popular chef – probably in my New Orleans file and I betcha it’s a recipe for gumbo or maybe jambalaya.

Chef Prudhomme was a Louisiana native and his contributions of blending Cajun and Creole cuisines put New Orleans on the map as a culinary destination. This cookbook is a reinterpretation of great American classics like Michigan Miner’s Pasties and New England Boiled Dinner. For each recipe a seasoning mix is provided taking the plainest of dishes into a meal worthy of entertaining!

Here is only part of my personal library collection. Yes, I get many recipes from cookbooks and magazines, not so much Pinterest, other media or the internet. I also love to read my cookbooks  as many have interesting stories about the authors, cuisines or history of recipes. I love the pictures too…

I hope you will visit your library soon and if you are fortunate to have one, the Friends of the Library Used Book Collection. This is only one of the many purposes of the Friends of the Plymouth District Library.