Westport Friends (Quaker) 54th Annual Used Book Fair
938 Main Road, Westport, MA
July 11, 2015
11 AM - Sunset and for the next ten days or so...
The great- grandmother of all used book fairs…The Westport Friends (Quaker) Meeting created its first book fair in 1962 to raise money to put a new roof on the parsonage across the street from its Meeting House on Main Road.
As they were sorting books that had been donated, a student pastor walked up to the late Dr. Stewart Kirkaldy, a member of the organizing committee, who recalled in 2009 that “In a calm voice and with perfectly neutral expression, he handed me a book and said, ‘You may want to keep this one. It’s a first edition of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick.’ “ http://ptatlarge.typepad.com/ptatlarge/2009/07/westport-friends-48th-annual-used-book-fair.html
The sale of that book alone took care of replacing the roof. The enthusiasm of people who showed up to scoop up books spread over a dozen tables at 25 cents apiece was pretty impressive. From a one-time event, it’s grown like Topsy and is entering its 54th year.
On the second Saturday in July, over 20,000 used hard and soft cover books, all donated during the year, will be laid out on 40 tables under two yellow and white striped tents. Categories in fiction and non-fiction span the gamut from the esoteric to best sellers. An account of last year's proceedings http://ptatlarge.typepad.com/ptatlarge/2014/07/westport-friends-quaker-53rd-used-book-fair-loads-of-pulp-fiction-non-fiction.html
A behind the scenes video taken last December gives you an idea of how and where people donate books, from a handful to a carton load.
Westport is a lovely destination for a Saturday in summer. Horseneck Beach, picturesque rural landscapes, miles of centuries old stone walls surrounding farm and woodlands, several small restaurants, the vaunted Back Eddy Restaurant, and the Westport Farmers' Market at Westport Town Farm at 830 Drift Road Saturdays, 8:30 AM–1 PM are all within minutes of the book fair on Main Road.
If you’ve never been to the book fair, consider opening a new chapter in your browsing history. You won’t find a first edition of Moby Dick but you will find enough books to while away afternoons at the beach or keep the midnight oil burning for the rest of the year.
BEFORE: COLLECTING BOOK DONATIONS FOR 2015
AFTER: SECOND SATURDAY IN JULY, BOOK FAIR OPENS AT 11 AM ON THE DOT
DECEMBER 2014 VIDEO OF COLLECTION PROCESS
DECEMBER 2014 VIDEO 2 OF COLLECTION PROCESS
Photos and video by Paul A. Tamburello, Jr.
Paul, once again we owe you a debt of gratitude for your skill and generosity of support of our Westport Friends Annual Book Fair! We are saddened too that you cannot be with us this time around, but know you will be in 2016!
The public might like to know that we have more books than every before...so much so that we had to rent extra tables this year! So come one...come all this Saturday!! Thanks again, Paul.
Posted by: Kevin | July 09, 2015 at 04:55 AM
This year we are using a Facebook Page in addition to our regular Web site (and some area ads too on small publications) to to promote our Book Fair. The FB page is named Westport Friends Annual Book Fair.
Posted by: Kevin Lee | July 09, 2015 at 11:36 AM
I love your reporting of this Book Sale! So impressive of an event. Ya nevah know… we may just be there this year
Posted by: Cathleen Cavanaugh | July 09, 2015 at 11:40 AM