Bookstore Feels Right at Home at the Winthrop Public Library

Amy Vendetti purchased books Tuesday at a little known bookstore in the town.

“I love this place – I’ve come out of here with two shopping bags full of books,” said Vendetti, a Winthrop resident.

The object of Vendetti’s affection is Bookends, a bookstore located in the basement of the Winthrop Public Library and operated by Joseph Neville, a professor emeritus at Wentworth Institute of Technology, Boston.

A graduate of Winthrop High in 1952, Neville, 79, holds undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He retired from his science professor’s position in 1995 after 30 years. He preciously worked for 10 years in industry.

“We’ve been here at the library for seven years,” said Neville. “Half the town doesn’t know about it.”

Neville said that he took over the leadership of the bookstore’s operations from the late Miriam D’Amato, bookstore committee chair for the Friends of the Winthrop Public Library.

Winthrop residents and library users donate the books. The prices are $1 for a hardcover, 50 cents for large paperbacks, and 25 cents for small paperbacks. Record albums, VCR tapes, and DVDs are also available.

“We have several thousand books in all subjects for sale,” said Neville. “I enjoy what I do here. It gets me out of the house.”

The store has been averaging $300 a month in sales. The proceeds go to the library.

“I encourage people to donate books and come here and buy some books,” said Neville.