Free books, no strings, no catch, just a mutual love of reading and making sure its available to everyone. Bonnie hoppa, who has taken over as acting director of the freetoall bookstore that operates out of a vineyard lane building in abell, says she wants to increase its visibility, raise its profile and make it a more active member of the community. Knowing that someplace like this exists where i can find everything from classics in vintage bindings, to recent and current bestsellers, to arcs of books that havent been released yetits heaven on earth. The maryland book bank is a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating literacy in children from underresourced neighborhoods. The book thing of baltimore is a delightful and anomalous building near johns hopkins campus that function as a free book shop where customers are. Russell wattenberg open society institute baltimore. Wattenberg received a fellowship to expand the book thing of baltimore, which he founded, to establish a book distribution network system that provides used and remainder books to non profit organizations and individuals throughout baltimore city. I cant even think of one thing that caught my interest. The 10 best restaurants near the book thing of baltimore.
For baltimore teachers heading back to school, the book. This place runs entirely on donations and they arrive in the thousands each and every week. It may have merged with another organization or ceased operations. The book thing of baltimore is a 501c nonprofit charity, located in baltimore, maryland, united states, created in september 1999 for the purpose of giving. Your donation of books is taxdeductible and donation receipts are available upon request. Basically, the organization collects books all week, and then opens their doors on saturday and sunday to give away books, free of charge. The book thing 3001 vineyard ln baltimore, md book stores. Founder of the book thing in baltimore stepping down, new leader. On december 23, 2019, the organization posted a statement to its website that it would be temporarily closing to deal with issues related to its. The 10 best restaurants near the book thing of baltimore in. Sep 01, 2019 the book thing draws teachers from across the state. The book thing is stocked with thousands upon thousands of free books, and is a muchbeloved resource for families and teachers.
From text books to romance novels and more, there are always new treasures to be found. For more information, visit the website by clicking here. In order to restructure, refocus, and reconnect with our incredible community members like you, we will be going into a hibernation period effective january 1, 2020. Oct 20, 2017 the book thing of baltimore is my favorite charity because without books the world would be a dreary place. Baltimore museum and book thing office of international.
Founder of the book thing in baltimore stepping down, new. This organizations exempt status was automatically revoked by the. Crews respond to an early morning fire at the book thing, a donationbased bookstore in baltimore. Bonnie hoppa, who has taken over as acting director of the freetoall bookstore that operates out of. Staff will be onsite occasionally to bring book donations inside of the warehouse. All the books you take have to be stamped, not for resale. The book thing is a charitable organization that aims to get unwanted books into the hands of people who read and cherish them. This is an interview with the executive director of the book thing of baltimore, inc.
Mar 02, 2016 crews respond to an early morning fire at the book thing, a donationbased bookstore in baltimore. Abc2 news offers comprehensive local news, marylands most accurate weather forecast and sports. This was a lucky find at the book thing of baltimore this past spring, and if i ever get the chance, i will delight in reading the other three in the quartet. Nov 30, 2017 the book thing of baltimore started out in the back of owner russell wattenbergs van. A fire early this morning caused severe damage to a warehouse housing the beloved book thing of baltimore, which has served as a vibrant free book exchange and community institution for more than 15 years.
Its not exactly a store since all the books are free so i. The book thing featured on cbs evening news baltimore, md patch. Every weekend, the unairconditioned warehouse in the abell. The book thing starts next chapter under new management. This place deserves more than 5 stars for its pure awesomeness. Baltimores book thing loses taxexempt status, will. Russell calls this the book thing, because its not a library, and its definitely not a store. Book thing founder russell wattenberg, who was one of osibaltimores first community fellows in 2000, made some comments through an intermediary. The book thing of baltimore, 3001 vineyard ln, baltimore, md. For baltimore teachers heading back to school, the book thing. The book thing of baltimore 2020 all you need to know. Russell wattenberg started collecting and passing out used books for free from the back of his van in 1999, which evolved to a warehouse in baltimores waverly neighborhood in 2005.
For more than a decade, baltimore readers have spent their weekends plundering the shelves of this dusty warehouse that mixes the public spirit of a lending library or used bookstore with the anarchic informality of a box of books discarded on the street corner. The book thing of baltimore, 3001 vineyard ln, baltimore. The book thing is a warehouse in maryland full of free books. The book thing of baltimore is a 501c nonprofit charity, located in baltimore, maryland, united states, created in september 1999 for the purpose of giving away books.
The free book warehouse hopes to reopen after it undergoes restructuring. Due to our hibernation, we are not currently accepting book donations. Any books or boxes left in the parking lot will result in a. To put unwanted books into the hands of those who want them. The ivy bookshop 6080 falls road the ivy bookshop is a wellstocked independent bookstore with everything from bestsellers to niche titles. Bonnie hoppa, who has taken over as acting director of the freetoall bookstore that operates out of a vineyard lane building in abell, says she.
The book thing of baltimore was established in 1999 as a way to get books in the hands of the less fortunate for free and has grown to a collection of over 200,000 books. The book thing of baltimore bookstore baltimore, maryland. I was there to donate approximately 300 books from my mothers. Restaurants near the book thing of baltimore, baltimore on tripadvisor. Baltimore, md a month after it reopened from a fire, the book thing is doing what it does best. The bottom line is that the book thing we all love is going through a challenging transition. The book thing bookstores 3001 vineyard ln, abell, baltimore, md. Hsbc donates books to the book thing of baltimore the. Reading through the book, i kept on hoping and praying that i was going to come across some cool and interesting things to do in baltimore and the book came up short in doing so.
The book thing of baltimore is a delightful and anomalous building near johns hopkins campus that function as a free book shop where customers are prohibited from paying a single cent for anything. The stars speak of mans insignificance in the long eternity of time. The book thing of baltimore 3001 vineyard ln, baltimore, maryland 21218 rated 4. Founder russell wattenberg, who opened the book thing in 2000 and brought it back after a devastating march 2017 fire, is taking a much. The book thing is a dangerous place for a hoarder, designer, or book lover. After fire, locals donate thousands of books to charity in maryland. Nov 11, 2017 a baltimore establishment was featured on the cbs evening news in its on the road segment.
The book thing of baltimore book shop baltimore, maryland. The book thing of baltimore lost its nonprofit status and will be temporarily shutting down after the new year, according to a statement posted to its website. The book thing baltimore is also known as the baltimore free book trade or sometimes just the free book guy referring to russell wattenberg, who started btb about three years ago. The book thing of baltimore is a delightful and anomalous building near johns hopkins campus that function as a free book shop where customers are prohibited from paying a. He runs a baltimore outfit called the book thing, which is not a library or.
They spread the word among themselves about this seemingly magical source of books in baltimore. This organization has not appeared on the irs business master file in a number of months. Our mission is to put unwanted books into the hands of those who want them. The book thing is basically a hole in the wall, but the inside is amazing and every book lovers dream. How giving away free books became a baltimore institution. After fire, locals donate thousands of books to charity in. Dec 23, 2019 the book thing of baltimore lost its nonprofit status and will be temporarily shutting down after the new year, according to a statement posted to its website. Book thing takes donations and gives away free booksas many as you like, as long as you promise not to resell them. We planned our arrival in baltimore, md, around visiting this book store as it is only open on the weekends. The book thing of baltimore is my favorite charity because without books the world would be a dreary place. Fans of the book thing of baltimore got a shock last week when the popular free bookstore announced it would be closing at the end of the year. Our after hours donation bin will be closedunavailable. Fire damages the book thing bookshop in baltimore youtube. Help restore the book thing of baltimore open society.
Today, its a fourroom warehouse where anyone can walk in, take as many books as they want and walk out. Baltimore book warehouse reopens after fire last yeara beloved baltimore book warehouse has officially reopened. Its not exactly a store since all the books are free so i guess the name the book thing is appropriate. Im sure there are plenty of interesting things to do in baltimore but this book doesnt show it.
The book thing of baltimore started out in the back of owner russell wattenbergs van. The book thing of baltimore lost its nonprofit status and will be temporarily shutting down after the new year, according to a statement posted to. The book thing is open every saturday and sunday from 9am until 5pm. Speaking of books, have you been to marylands most stunning library. Once our bellies were full, we decided to head to our final destination the book thing. The book thing draws teachers from across the state. It was created and is operated by russel wattenberg, a former bartender who was inspired to create a system for distributing books to impoverished students. Dec 08, 2014 this is an interview with the executive director of the book thing of baltimore, inc. The book thing of baltimore bookstore baltimore, maryland 319.
The book thing featured on cbs evening news baltimore. Vernon mainstay doughertys, where he used to tend bar, called it. Thank you so much to our patrons, volunteers, and community for such a huge turnout today. I was pretty much in book heaven here exploring shelf upon shelf of donated books up for grabs. He runs a baltimore outfit called the book thing, which is. A new chapter for the book thing for more than 17 years russell wattenberg has catered to thousands of hungry minds. Find your perfect book with the help of knowledgeable book. The maryland book bank po box 41551 baltimore, md 21203. The book thing is a staple for literary baltimore, allowing people to take as many books as they like with no purchase or exchange necessary. Librarything local covers bookstores and libraries, and book events of all kinds. Baltimores iconic book stores and libraries visit baltimore. The book thing of baltimore 2020 all you need to know before. The other places i checked out, like the maryland book bank, are interested in kids books. Baltimores book thing loses taxexempt status, will temporarily shut.
The book thing 3001 vineyard ln baltimore md 21218. The book thing has been nurturing readers since 1999, when russell wattenberg, who arrived in baltimore somewhat by accident, turned his hobby of collecting books and giving them away into a fulltime thingrussells book thing, as the patrons at the former mt. Heres what to know when planning a visit to baltimores freetoall bookshop. Back when the book thing caught fire, i had a bunch packed up to donate which are still sitting in my living room. A baltimore establishment was featured on the cbs evening news in its on the road segment. Today, the society donated hundreds of remaining books from its used book sale to a good cause the book thing of baltimore, inc the book thing of baltimore gives away books, free of charge, to anyone desiring them teachers, schools and the general public.
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