I LOVE WHEN KIDS, like my 8-year-old granddaughter, Isabelle, love to read. It sets them on a path for success in school. If you can read, you can learn anything. I’ve always believed that, except perhaps when it comes to math. Reading didn’t help me there.
But Izzy isn’t thinking about math; her dad is a math whiz anyway. Rather, she’s focused on reading for the love of reading a good story. On a recent visit, she could barely contain her excitement about Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke. Izzy quickly finished the first volume in the series and then breezed through the next two.
There’s a story here about Dragon Rider. Izzy’s mom, my eldest, found the fantasy novel while we were shopping at Books on Central, a used bookstore run by Rice County Area United Way at 227 Central Avenue North, Faribault. All proceeds go to local nonprofits supported by the United Way. Initially, Izzy wasn’t too excited about the book. But soon after we arrived home, she was snugged in the recliner reading.
This is exactly what grandparents, parents and the good folks at Books on Central like to see. The volunteer-run bookshop just completed its first full year of operation with more than $30,000 in used book sales during 2024, according to lead volunteers Dave and Jeanne Campbell. That’s a whole lot of books considering kids’ books sell for a buck or two and adult books for a bit more.
I’m thrilled that the Faribault community and beyond has embraced and supported this used bookstore by donating books and by buying them. It’s a win-win for everyone. People can get rid of books they no longer need, find books to read and help their neighbors. Bookshop proceeds assist The United Way in their mission of focusing on financial stability, health and education.
And education includes reading. The local United Way supports Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides a free book a month to registered area children for the first five years of their lives. Dolly’s Book Bash, an annual fundraiser to support the program, is set for Friday, January 24, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. at the Northfield Ballroom. The event features music, line dancing, an auction and games.
Back at Books on Central in Faribault, the bookshop is, in some ways, magical. The setting is in the former Dandelet Jewelry with beautiful built-in wooden shelving and drawers and a chandelier centering the space. In the back, kids have an area all their own to peruse the many books ranging from board books for babies to picture books to novels like Dragon Rider. The whole space feels inviting, enchanting.
Sales of 2,661 books totaling about $9,000 in the last quarter of 2024 reflect the incredible support and enthusiasm for Books on Central. Those numbers are remarkable considering the bookshop is typically open only 24 hours a week and is totally volunteer-run. Volunteer hours in 2024 totaled 4,479.
This place is more than a volunteer-run used bookstore. It’s also a place to connect, to build community, to learn. Books on Central hosts frequent literary events featuring area writers. I attended a poetry reading by published poet, retired Faribault High School English teacher and friend Larry Gavin. I could listen to Larry read poetry all day. The way language flows from his mind to his fingertips to create poems, well, it’s magical. He has a radio reading voice that mesmerizes. I also listened to a group of Northfield poets read their poems at Books on Central. I heard local historian, writer and artist Jeff Jarvis talk about the Faribault Dakota. And I delighted in the engaging storytelling of native Tanzanian Joseph Mbele, a St. Olaf College professor, consultant and author of several books, his newest Chickens in the Bus—More Thoughts on Cultural Differences.
I love that my granddaughter enjoys going to Books on Central. She’s discovered it’s a special place where, if you look (or let your mom look), you’ll discover a silver dragon flying between the pages of a book.
#
FYI: Books on Central is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Donated books are accepted, but must be in good condition. Volunteers sort and clean the books, determining which to stock. You will not find musty and moldy smelling books here.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
is great place with a fabulous mission.
Books on Central truly is both.
what a wonderful enterprise, that supports and understands the value of books and reading for all ages. reading is a gateway to the world and as my grandson once said, ‘when I read, I feel like I can do and imagine anything in the world and go anywhere.’ yes, exactly. he and I had a book club, just the two of us for a while, where we would each read the same book and talk about ut after, and I was so pleased that he invited me to join him in this and we were the only members. as a grandmother, you are so right, it is a delight and great joy to see our grandchildren enjoy a love of reading and it fills our heart to know that they will also carry this joy through their lives. I love used book stores, my whole family does, and you never know what treasures you will find, but you always find something.
p.s. the zingeman’s book ‘celebrate every day’ is from a wonderful deli/bakery that is a few blocks from my house, and I worked for them for a bit way back when, the most amazing owners I’ve ever worked for.
Beth, I love your grandson’s take on books. He’s right. I love that you two had a two-person book club. I love that one of the books I photographed is from a bakery near your home and where you worked back when. What a small world! Keep reading!
A few years ago I read a different series by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart. You’d like it, I’m certain, as it’s about storybook characters com to life! They made a movie of it, too.
Would Inkheart be age-appropriate for Izzy, a third grader? Maybe I should consider reading it, even if I don’t read fantasy. Stretch my reading.
Good question. I’m assuming it’s considered that age range. Above “children’s” and below “young adult”. You could sure see if you can find it at the library and see what you think.
Good idea. I will do that.
Loving your posts lately 🙂 We recently traveled and ended up stopping into some book shops to peruse. You never know what you might discover – books, cards, calendars, a reading going on, et. al. I read too many books in a month so Kindle unlimited it is or the library. I do like going into bookstores, especially used if looking for a unique book gift or cookbook or coffee table type of book. Those can be pretty pricey new. Another favorite store to peruse while traveling is kitchen stores (my other love). Here’s to Snuggling into a Great Read – ENJOY 🙂
Thank you, Renee, for appreciating my recent blog posts, especially. We definitely share a love of reading and of used bookshops.
I like all the books, from fresh and new to musty and dusty!
Good for you, Gunny. What do you like to read?
I, too, love to see the grandchildren reading… and I have loved reading chapter books out loud to them… Reading is a gateway to the world, but more than that, it’s a gateway to fond memories too. 😉
I like your take that reading is a gateway also to fond memories.
oh how I wish I could go stock up on used books. What a great idea.
We have a free little library that I have been adding some of my extra books too. I have found a few that came home with me too. I’m running out of room so I am enjoying finding new books to read and then returning them so someone else can read them.
You would love this bookshop. I love Little Free Libraries.