Reading continues to be a great way for many of us to get our mind away from things during this pandemic.

What You Need To Know

  • An old Carriage Barn in Cazenovia is now seeing success as a bookstore run by volunteers

  • The Friends of the Cazenovia Library operate the store next to the library on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

  • All the books for sale are donated by the community. The proceeds go to support the library

In Cazenovia, an old Carriage Barn was transformed into a used bookstore where sales help the Cazenovia Public Library.

Julie Silverman is from Cazenovia and is taking courses online at Tufts University. But with no extracurriculars, she’s found a second home as a volunteer at the Carriage Barn Bookstore.

“Being able to get out of the house, aside from my online classes, and enjoy the books and get to look through them, and sort them, and help people find what they’re looking for,” said Silverman.

Julie is one of about 20 volunteers helping operate the new bookstore in a historic venue. This old carriage barn was built in 1858 where it sheltered horses at one time.

Cazenovia native Robert Hubbard purchased the property in 1890 which would eventually become the library. In the 1980s, the library began using the old barn next door for storage.

"For years it was used for just storage. And more recent history, it was used for storage and storage for books for our once-a-year book sale," said Cazenovia Public Library Director Betsy Kennedy.

A few years ago, the Friends of the Library got a state construction grant and with donations, created a plan. The barn was fully renovated with new wood floors, walls, windows, and restored horse stalls.​

The inside of the Carriage Barn features walls of books, even within the old horse stalls.

Today, the new Carriage Barn Bookstore is filled with new and used books for sale, which are donated by the community.

"It's comfortable and it's wonderful to see the community's response. Everybody who comes in here has nothing but great things to say about it," said Friends of the Library Vice President Gary Johnson.

The store is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays while you can purchase most books for just $3. Proceeds go to support the library and its programs.

During a time when many are doing a little more reading, the store is truly appreciated by all.

"Because of the pandemic, because everyone wants to read and stay at home as much as possible, and coming in here is just a great environment to do so, and it's safe, and you don't have to be around a ton of people," said Silverman.

The bookstore recently was named the winner of the Central New York Preservation Award by the CNY Preservation Association. For more, you can visit the Carriage Barn Books Facebook page.