www.austin.com - Library's Recycled Reads Now Open

Library's Recycled Reads Now Open

Written by Laura Romer

Photo: Sanja Gjenero

Become a mean, green, reading machine.

With recent times looking a little glum, a penny here and a penny there might have the potential to go a long way. Unplug yourself from modern technology and throw caution to the wind by diving into the hidden world of bargained priced books. Help keeping the Austin community hooked on reading is the grand opening of Austin’s latest bookstore, Recycled Reads, which opened on February 28, with much literary fanfare, family fun, and live music, including Austin roots rock icon Jon Dee Graham.

A work in progress for over a year now, Recycled Reads was born out of Austin Public Library’s popular and successful Monster Book Sale held at various times throughout the year. Longtime Austinite Mindy Reed has been with Austin Public Library for over twelve years and now serves as the Bookstore Manager for Recycled Reads (5335 Burnet Rd). She, along with several dedicated volunteers, helps run the new venture.

Reed says one of the goals of Recycled Reads is “to give the materials that we have in the library and the materials that people donate a second chance—another chance to get into good hands and for people to read them and appreciate them.” The books were provided through donations from both individuals and from retired library materials no longer in circulation.

Pre-opening, stocking the shelves

Additionally, Recycled Reads works with Books Beyond Borders, an organization that funds Project Schoolhouse, which helps to provide materials to schools and libraries in third world countries. Given the name Recycled Reads, the store also focuses on recycling initiatives and strives to ensure that nothing will go into the city landfill, and even works with companies that can recycle materials into building material.

The majority of the books start at bargain basement prices: a whopping $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hard covers, while others, including collectible and vintage items, range in price from $5 to $40. All the proceeds directly benefit the Austin Public Library.

The store is over 5000 square feet and contains thousands upon thousands of books, which are organized by category. Book lovers can peruse the aisles of fiction, cookbooks, vintage Texana, and other treasures in need of a good home. You can even bring your laptop and soak in the free wireless internet.

“People in Austin love books. They love reading,” says Reed. “They’re going to be very excited about what’s available to them and the affordability, and the fact that they’re doing something for the library [and] they can do something for the environment…It just says everything Austin.”

Recyled Reads is located at 5335 Burnet Road and opened Tuesdays from 10am-4pm, Thursdays from 3-9pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5pm.

Visit Austin.com to celebrate Austin, Texas! Austin.com is the web portal for everything entertaining happening in Austin, Texas.

Login Form

Austin Area Directory - add your business

Arts Menu