For What It’s Worth
By Jim Owens

Jim Owens

If you have attended the annual Tour of Homes extravaganza sponsored by the Big Canoe Women’s Guild the Book Nook operation will probably not be news to you. For those who somehow have not experienced the sheer joy of browsing a second-hand book store, please do so at your earliest opportunity. In the meanwhile this article hopefully will heighten your anticipation. The Book Nook wares are on display on the ground floor of the Broyles Center of the Big Canoe Chapel on the Friday and Saturday of the Tour. (The dates of the 2009 Tour are May 1 and 2.)

The late Charlene Solomon with the help of my wife, Ann, and others started the sale of used books as part of the Tour of Homes about twelve years ago. Cathy and J.C. Smith have headed up the operation over the past eight years along with the assistance of over seventy volunteers. While the sale of books only occurs once a year, the collection and storage process is a year-round project. The prices for the books have not changed over the past eight years while the number of books donated and then sold continues to increase. Paper backs sell for one dollar, hardbacks for two dollars and for three dollars you may purchase music offerings, CDs, and videos.

During the Tour this year Book Nook sales were $8,400. Because of the magnitude of the project no exact count is maintained of books donated each year, but Cathy and J.C. estimate that in excess of 10,000 books are given by the good people of Big Canoe to the Book Nook project. Left over books area given to local charities and Friends of the Library in Dawson and Pickens counties.

Carol Coogler A Book Nook "regular"

Collection boxes for books are located at the Big Canoe post office and the Fitness Center from December through May. Pick-ups, mainly by Cathy and J.C., are provided for large donations and in special situations. All in all the Book Nook undertaking has been successful, as have the Tour’s other operations, because of the dedication of its community-wide volunteers like the Smiths. Benefits from all Tour related operations flow in all directions from giver to recipient.

On a large scale, it is clear that the people of Big Canoe have a passion for book reading. As an example, there are over 18 book clubs for women in Big Canoe who are members of Ridgerunners. I am sure our people make good use of the Dawson County and Pickens County libraries. While Big Canoe amenities such as golf and tennis may grab the spotlight, there are many inveterate book readers in Big Canoe whose goals are enjoyment and more knowledge of the world, and its people’s past, present and future in truth and in fiction. In closing permit me to share with you these words of James Macauley written many years ago:

“I would rather be a poor man in a garret with plenty of books than a King who did not love reading.”