West San Jose Resident

Cover Story

Photograph by Zach Beecher

Within Reach: Virginia Taylor, 84, pulls a book at the West Valley branch library. Taylor organizes novels for special book sale events and also maintains an ongoing honor-system book sale in the library's lobby.

Book lovers channel enthusiasm as Friends

By Melissa Fall

Even though Virginia Taylor has long since left her hometown with its one-room library, her literary passion has not dimmed.

As a young girl growing up in Wolf Point, Mont., Taylor's love for books was already powerful, and that love has lasted throughout the years. She is one of about 25 committed Friends of the West Valley branch library volunteers.

"I really love books," she says. "I love reading."

It was this delight in reading that inspired Taylor, 84, to begin volunteering for the library. She started in 1985 volunteering after seeing an advertisement in a local newspaper, and she's never looked back. Since her retirement five years ago, Taylor has been able to devote even more time to her library volunteer work and reading--two of her favorite pastimes.

Her three daughters inherited her enjoyment of the written word. They grew up loving literature as much as their mother does, and now all four of them exchange books with each other.

"We know each others' tastes pretty well," Taylor says.

Taylor's taste in literature is incredibly diverse, and her reading list defies quantification. Her favorite authors include Anne Tyler, David Lodge and Barbara Kingsolver. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a recently rediscovered favorite. It's hard for an avid reader like Taylor to pick a single title or a particular author that she likes best; she's read innumerable selections over the years, and she's in the process of working through multiple books at a given time.

"I read a more serious book around dinner time," she says, "and have a less serious one for the rest of the day."

She loves to travel, and late 19th-century travelogues written by women are some of the most valued pieces in her personal collection. This adventurous spirit, coupled with her immense knowledge of rare books, is what makes Taylor such a valuable member of the Friends group.

"She's a dynamo. She can spot a first edition from 20 feet," fellow volunteer Ron Schwartz says. "She knows books."

Taylor specializes in selecting books for the Friends of the Library sale area. Books are donated all the time, and deciding which ones should be put up for sale and which ones should be sent elsewhere can be a challenge. She's worked with the sale area long enough to notice certain trends. For example, most people aren't looking for "make-believe."

Library buyers are more interested in "real stuff," she says. In general, nonfiction sells better than fiction, especially recent releases on technical subjects. Taylor prices these books specially, as fiction is usually 50 cents a title, but the cost of nonfiction varies based on criteria like rarity and subject matter.

"As much as I read, sorting through the books is an education in and of itself," Taylor says about her volunteer work. "I run across such interesting things. Just knowing they exist is fascinating."

But as enjoyable as working with books is for the volunteers, the Friends of the Library group is even more beneficial to the library itself.

Arturo Villasenor is the West Valley branch library's adult services librarian. He estimates that the Friends group has been active for at least two decades, conducting various book sales to raise funds for the library. The group organizes quarterly special book sale events, but also maintains an ongoing honor-system book sale in the library's lobby. The money generated from the sales funds things like children's programs, new furniture and most recently, the library's periodical collection.

"Some of the funding for periodicals was cut," Villasenor says, "and the Friends are going to supplement our periodicals collection so we can purchase new titles throughout the year. They're very, very generous."

The volunteers' appreciation of the library continues to have wide-reaching effects.

"They're helping out hundreds of library users," Villasenor adds. "They're affecting a large number of our patrons. They're a very integral part of the library and its placement in the community."

Indeed, these book lovers have channeled their enthusiasm into a phenomenon. Their work has increased public access to literature in a number of ways, from summer events that get children hooked on reading to additional magazines that keep adults informed. It's no exaggeration to say that volunteers like Taylor and Schwarz are not simply Friends of the West Valley branch library but friends of a community, friends of all readers and friends of books everywhere.

Even though untold numbers of library patrons have frequented the quarterly book sales, the most devoted buyers are often the Friends themselves.

"My volunteering has spoiled me for buying new books," Taylor says, discussing her growing number of purchases at the Friends sales.

Schwartz echoes her comment.

"I've bought so many great books," he says. "I can't keep up with them."

And that's a sentiment any reader can identify with--especially one who's walked through the ever-enticing Friends of the Library sale area.