“The Book Thing”
The Book Thing started in the back seat of Russell Wattenberg’s van. He was a bartender at the time and after hearing school teachers complaining about the book shortage in schools, he began buying books with his tip money. The idea caught on and soon the back seat of his van was filled with book donations. He was a travelling free book fair. In 1999, Wattenberg formed a nonprofit and housed his growing collection of free books in the basement of 3001 Vineyard Lane, near Johns Hopkins University.
Today, people walk out of “The Book Thing” with around 10,000 free books a week! If you have any books around the house or office that are dusty and lonely, think about giving them a new home through the Book Thing. Maybe you could use a gently used book or you know someone that would love more books, but can’t afford a trip to Barnes and Noble. The Book Thing is waiting to share its thousands of free books! It is open on the weekends from 9am-6pm, but donations are welcome 24 hours a day, every day. There are lots of volunteer opportunities too! Let us know what you take home from The Book Thing on your next (or first) visit.
books, The Book Thing, Baltimore, MD, donations, nonprofit, free, Charles Village, reading
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