Dan's Papers - April 18, 2008

Don't judge a cottage by its cover. Though the cottage is located in Southold, has a welcoming sunporch, lace-curtained windows and flowers lining the lawn, there's not a real estate agency on the North Fork that would have it as a listing.

That's because this cottage is the Book Cottage, home to hundreds of used books. The Friends of Southold Free Library run the place and a mighty impressive job that group does. The Book Cottage, staffed by volunteers, is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Stop in and say hello to volunteers Janeth Wanzor, Mary Jane Gross, and Betty Fitzpatrick, as I did on a recent Saturday morning. They'll tell you a bit about the Book Cottage and then you can browse.

Years ago, this pretty little home was just that - a home. Part of a package given to the Southold librarian. Just a few feet behind Southold Library, the home was comfortable and convenient.

It's still comfortable and convenient, although it's home now to used audio books, magazines, puzzles and sheet music, as well as books. They're sold at very modest prices and proceeds go to the library.

As I walked the path to the cottage, I steeled myself against buying one more book. Naturally I weakened but that's not uncommon at the Book Cottage.

Now on to that porch. I call it Paperback Porch. Shelves of paperbacks, tables full of paperbacks - mysteries, romances, whatever there is in paperback. All for pennies. So much temptation here that one might never reach the hard-cover area.

But reach it I did. I discovered that fiction is arranged alphabetically by author, as in any library. But non-fiction is shelved by topic - from art to zoology. Wow! I should have brought my lunch. This was serious stuff. Where did it all come from?

Most of it arrives via North Fork donors. Like Jeannie Schmidt of Cutchogue who came with an armload of books for the Book Cottage. Jeannie calls the place her "second home" and says her father, Peter, feels the same way. Of course Jeannie bought a book - Memory of Death by Nora Roberts.

Now another donor, Peter Stevens, who lives in Southold and owns The Book Scout in Greenport. Peter's donations filled a couple of cartons. All donations, by the way, are stored in a back room and shelved as time permits. That room also houses a refrigerator stocked with soda and cranberry juice. Thirsty work, sorting and shelving.

And who purchases the books, tapes, and other good stuff? Seems everyone on the North Fork. The first shopper this morning was Stephanie Schriefer of Greenport. She's a Stephen King fan and has been for years. But this morning Stephanie's search was delayed as she discussed King's work with another browser. I'll add that I heard several conversations among shoppers - and not all about books. Strangers exchanged recipes, restaurant reviews, medical histories. Real life on the North Fork.

Connie Ruk of Southold visits the Book Cottage twice a week. Her special love is an old book with an inscription from giver to recipient. Recently Connie came across such a child's book, inscribed in 1938. Who had given the book, she wondered, and what about the child who received it. Where were they now?

Connie says simply, "I love books."

"It's a ritual," says Karen Cullen, who works in Mattituck and lives in Southold. Every Saturday morning, with a Westchester friend, Karen stops at the Book Cottage. For her own reading and for her daughter Kristin, a first-year English teacher in California. Kristin set up a bookshelf in her classroom and students help themselves. Karen sends boxes of Book Cottage paperbacks to the students with love.

Finally, meet Southold's Bill Andrejack. Bill's a student at Suffolk County Community College, having just returned from four years in the United States Marines. That included Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Now Bill visits the Book Cottage and "usually picks out about a dozen books." Bill hopes to write and direct movies. Yes, he's kept a written record of his military experiences. Our gratitude and good wishes to you, Bill.

Let's sum up the Book Cottage with words from Peconic's John Skabry as he purchased books for his grandchildren. "Thank you for operating this little library."