Agnes Eddyblouin, 8, is into both fiction and nonfiction. Starting July 1, the homeschooler and everyone else can find it all again at Second Hand Prose. The used book shop Friends of Wiscasset Public Library runs in the library’s basement will open for the first time since the pandemic began. 

In a phone interview June 24, Eddyblouin recalled really enjoying an English poetry book she got there. She loves that room, the library and reading the books. “They’re always adventurous, and nice, and I just calm down when I’m reading them.”

The Bristol girl is the youngest of Allison and John Eddyblouin’s seven children. Allison said the family has been going to the High Street library about a quarter of a century, mainly for the children’s room. She said the children’s librarians have always been welcoming and the room is “always set up for children to easily interact with books.”

And the used book room? “The kids love going in there, too. It’s a great place.” Over the years, her children have gotten books on history, sailing and more. “There are so many treasures in there ...”

She added, “It’s so nice to know that your money is going to a local organization.” Buying used books also fits with a practice her family talks a lot about, she said: “The whole reduce, reuse, recycle thing. We’re reusing a book. It’s not being shipped, I’m not buying it from Amazon.” 

Also excited for this week’s reopening is Used Book Room Chairman Lynn Maloney. “It provides a great service I think, for the town and for the people in this area,” she said in a phone interview June 26. In the pandemic, the library used the space as a holding area for returned books, Maloney said.

She said the room has been professionally cleaned. “For the clients that come in, the volunteers and the library staff, we wanted to protect everyone. And there’s (hand sanitizer) as you come in. So we feel very comfortable being there. Plus, we can open the door.”

The room is not yet taking donations of used books, Maloney said. She noted the books for sale are in very good condition. They include fiction, gardening, cooking, crafts, historical non-fiction and more.

Starting July 1, the shop will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, contact Maloney at (207) 798-2831 or lynnmaloney5@yahoo.com

Friends invites longtime and new patrons to stop by, say hello and add to their personal libraries. Maloney said the nonprofit supports WPL’s children’s programming, including the summer reading program; and the building’s spring cleaning and WPL’s Main Street page at wiscassetnewspaper.com. Friends’ past projects have included installing new custom shelving, carpeting and LED lighting in Second Hand Prose, replacing carpeting in the children’s room, giving WPL a new front door and a projector and helping save WPL money by installing a heat pump in the lower level and replacing much of the library’s fluorescent lighting with LED.

Maloney said this year’s project is to give the circulation desk and reception area new countertops and “a thorough painting.”