If you want to be overwhelmed—in a good way—visit the Book Den warehouse.
The unassuming building on Belvedere Avenue is a booklover’s paradise, where thousands of donated books organized into genres await readers.
“It just hooks you,” says Diane Sabo, Book Den’s volunteer coordinator. “And if you like books, it’ll hook you even more.”
Book Den is volunteer-run and operated by Friends of the Sacramento Public Library. Sales of used books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and computer games support the library and many community groups.
“We have over 100 active volunteers spread out through the week,” says Sabo, who started volunteering at Book Den after retiring in 2013. “The biggest number—about 75%—are sorters.
“When donations come in, they’re put in the sorting room with long tables. The first sorters put everything into categories. This is where a lot of (volunteers) start because it’s a great way to get an idea of the whole process. Second sorters are volunteers who’ve been there for awhile and they take over a category and decide what should go into the warehouse and the store.”
Sabo is a second sorter for literature. Her colleague, Pam Whiteley, is a second sorter for drama and manages Book Den.
“This is a labor of love and something I thoroughly enjoy,” says Whiteley, who joined the team after retiring around the same time as Sabo. “We have the best customers, and the other volunteers are amazing. They’re here because they enjoy it.”
Book Den volunteers do multiple tasks. Some take in donations on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Others maintain the warehouse—85,000 volumes shelved by subject. Some work as cashiers in the store, open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Others oversee Book Den’s internet storefronts.
“Amazon sells individual items, eBay sells sets,” Sabo says. “They have to package and ship everything, too. They work hard.”
Book Den hosts a twice-yearly antiquarian sale for serious collectors, seeded almost entirely by Dr. Joanne Murphy, a former ER doctor who collects ephemera, such as a vintage dissecting kit—complete with dead frog—a Playboy magazine in Braille and rare books, like a copy of Dante’s “Paradise” that sold for $800 last fall. The sale helped the store reach $300,000 gross in 2023.
Successful sales mean Book Den can donate to dozens of local schools, organizations and outreach programs, including the library’s summer reading program and Book First, which provides high-need first graders with their first book.
Book Den offers opportunities for young people looking to fulfill community service hours and disabled adults seeking work experience. And it’s perfect for retired people.
“When you retire, the most important thing you can do is volunteer,” Whiteley says. She gives time to the Friends committee to advocate for Proposition E, renewal of the parcel tax that covers 24% of the library budget, on the November ballot.
“It keeps you out among other people and it keeps your mind sharp. It gives you something to look forward to and a way to know you’re making a difference, no matter what you’re doing as a volunteer. It gives your life a lot more meaning.”
Book Den is at 8250 Belvedere Ave., Suite E. For information, visit saclibfriends.org/book-den.
Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.
