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vary. Paperbacks are one-third of the
original price or $5, whichever is lower.
But first, the 90,000 books that
came through the book depot's doors
this year must be sorted into some 70
categories. A few volunteers wear cloth
gloves, others take allergy pills for the
mold and dust that's preva-
lent with old books.
"But everybody gets here all
year round because we enjoy
it," says Berman, co-chair of
the sale with Gladys Bernstein
of Southfield.
"We're like a family here,"
Bernstein says of the volun-
teers.
"It's not simply a book
depot, but a treasure chest,"
says Braiker. "I'll miss our
service to our community
and the people we've met
over the years."

Brandeis book sale," says Lynn Konstant
of Huntington Woods, who has taught
34 years, mainly at Cooley High School
in Detroit.
The Brandeis sale has helped
establish "our own mini-Brandeis
library," she says.

teerism in the Jewish community.
Though important data will be released
later this year in the National Jewish
Population Survey, she and others in
her field have observed several trends.
"The Jewish American population is
aging," she says. "In a few years, one in

Community s Loss

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As much as the volunteers love
41140400009,0400,141 0100601101 0011111110011111111111NNIIIMi
their work and the idea of
helping raise money for
Brandeis, many feel others will
lose even more when the sale
ends.
"I love the book group and
the idea of Jewish people hav-
ing a university like
Brandeis," says Bechek. "But
I feel worse for the communi-
Rose Bankler carefully checks books for condition and the proper category.
ty losing this sale."
The used book sale has
become an important resource for edu-
four American Jews will be older
The Changing Volunteer
cators, especially in Detroit, she says.
adults, like empty nesters and
It's no surprise that 10 — half the regu-
And teachers agree.
retirees, and they represent an enor-
lar volunteers — are retired educators,
"My job is to instill a love of books,"
mous
resource pool to the communi-
people who love books And love to
says Barbara Flayer of Southfield, an ele-
read.
tY.
mentary school teacher in Detroit for 20
They range in age from 65-90. Their
"However," she cautions, "these
years. "How do you do that if you don't
work is physically demanding, and they
people are jealously guarding their
have books?"
need younger volunteers to take over,
time." They want to do something
but haven't found them.
She and many other teachers pur-
besides play golf and take trips, she
"We're competing for talent, and
chase books and supplies out of their
says, but not something with lots of
young women, the 35- to 45- year-olds
own pocket, she says, because resources
responsibility. They want to be able
— the ages many of us were when we
are limited in urban schools.
to take off and travel, if they choose.
first joined — are now pursuing careers
Like hundreds of other teachers,
This is not the demise of volun-
and working more than women in the
Flayer goes to the book sale on
teerism, Sales adds, but a change.
past," Bernstein says.
Teachers Day, the last day of the
Many of the current volunteers
Their organization is not alone in
sale, when books are free to teachers
were motivated by the establishment
searching for younger volunteers.
and members of metropolitan
of Brandeis in 1948, Bechek says. It
Judy Diamond, development officer
Detroit's community service organi-
was
the first non-sectarian college or
for BUNWC in Waltham, hesitates to
zations like JARC ( Jewish
university
in the United States spon-
call it a trend, but "there are issues
Association for Residential Care),
sored by the American Jewish com-
makinc, it more difficult to continue
nursing homes, senior centers,
munity. It was an exciting time and
the book sales with an aging member-
women's shelters and prisons.
women
decided to take over funding
ship ... Younger people are not volun-
Flayer carts home baskets of books
its
library
with used book sales and
teering in the tradition of our older
for her "kids." "I read these books to my
study groups.
members ... We are feeling the pinch of
students at school," she says, "and then
The five or six BUNWC study
change."
allow each one to choose a favorite book
groups will continue after the book
Amy Sales, a senior research associ-
to take home."
sale ends, says Detroit's chapter pres-
ate at the Cohen Center for Modern
"Hundreds and hundreds of kids
Jewish Studies at Brandeis, examines
ident Eleanor Roberts of
have used the books I pick up at the
community involvement and volun-
Birmingham.

