Friends’ group turn old books into library funding, enduring fellowship
by Judy Stringer
Sit down with a few of the Friends of the Hudson Library members and be prepared to hear whimsical tales of hidden oddities among its donation piles – one box famously contained cat ashes – and heartwarming stories of friendships bonded over books and community service.
But make no mistake, this dedicated cadre of volunteers is a powerhouse of productivity.
Following what President Lynn Remly calls a “flying finish” to 2025, the nonprofit is celebrating a record-breaking year of support for the Hudson Library and Historical Society. FOHL raised more than $40,000 in 2025, eclipsing its 2024 total by nearly $1,000.
While the library is a taxpayer-supported entity, the Friends’ contributions make the “extras” possible, according to Remly. The funds support programming including children’s and family events, concerts and guest lectures, but they also touch the practical corners of library life, such as the technology lab and library café.
It’s all part of ensuring the library serves as a community hub, Remly said, rather than just a quiet repository for books.
“Most of the purse is used for programs and materials that benefit all library patrons, and we’re proud to do our part,” she said.
Forward thinking
The backbone of this fundraising success remains the three weekly book sales, but the Friends have significantly boosted their bottom line by embracing the digital marketplace. Since 2019, the group has operated a highly successful Amazon sales project, turning niche donations into major revenue.
“We’re a little unusual as a Friends group to actually do that,” explained volunteer Marilyn Orr. “Over the last six years, we’ve seen over $40,000 in profit just from Amazon sales. … Our buyers are everything from law firms and other libraries to booksellers and collectors.”
Operating out of a tiny workspace, the team identifies high-value items that might otherwise sit unnoticed on a sale shelf.
“What we sell on Amazon is generally not what would sell here in the room,” Orr noted. Recent finds include a C++ textbook that sold for $105 and a book on evolutionary theory. “I listed a book for $150, a brand new book that was still in cellophane. It’s never been used,” she said.
Beyond the digital storefront, the group’s innovative spirit is evident in their creative local events. In recent years, FOHL has introduced a summer sidewalk sale – complete with an eye-grabbing blue air dancer – and a holiday sale that brought in $1,000 this year alone.
Finding keepers
Managing the thousands of donations received each year is a massive undertaking. Volunteer Beverly Dorson said the process begins with sorting out the “muck,” or books that have been stored in damp basements or are simply too worn to sell. Items that don’t make the cut are sent to recycling bins or donated to Goodwill to ensure nothing is wasted.
For the items that do make it to the shelves, the volunteers take a professional approach to retail. Dorson oversaw a reorganization of the sale stacks when she joined Friends following her retirement as a librarian.
“What I did was I revamped the room,” Dorson recalled. “I rearranged the shelves by subject, then by alphabet, and then by overachieving authors. If you’ve got an author that has 20 books, they’re not going to be in the alphabet; they’re going to be in their own little section.”
The team also curates specialized displays to move unique inventory, such as a dedicated “aquarium” cabinet for rare or vintage finds and seasonal showcases that highlight holiday music, DVDs and thematic literature.
“A lot of library sales you go to, it’s just a muddle,” Dorson said. “I didn’t want it that way. I wanted people to be able to come in and find exactly what they were looking for.”
Forging fellowship
These three Friends argue that the profit generated by the organization’s ideas and professionalism, however, isn’t reflected on a balance sheet alone. FOHL has created a community where volunteers – ranging from retired chemistry teachers to former schoolteachers and accountants – find deep personal connections.
In 2025 alone, these volunteers contributed 3,700 hours of service. For those who gather four times a week to sort through boxes and staff the sales, those hours represent camaraderie and kinship, said Dorson. Many board members, Remly added, have served together for over a decade.
Relationships often extend far beyond the library walls with members finding travel partners and lifelong confidants among their Friends’ peers.
“In these stacks, friendships develop,” said Orr. “That’s what keeps us coming back.” FOHP is in the midst of its spring membership drive. Those interested in joining the ranks can fill out a membership form at hudsonlibrary.org/support-the-library/friends-of-the-library. To shop the store, stop in for sales on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.-4 pm. and Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Photo caption: Friends of the Hudson Library volunteers (l-r) Beverly Dorson, Marilyn Orr and Lynn Remly stand among the stacks of their successful bookshop. In 2025, the Friends group raised over $40,000 to support library programming, technology services and community events through local and online sales. Photo by Judy Stringer.