At Classics, it’s always ‘free book day’ for Trenton kids
It’s never a dark and stormy night for Trenton kids at Classics Bookstore on Lafayette Street in the city.
In short: It’s always the best of times.
In fact, if I may be so bold, I’d like to give some advice to those in their younger and more vulnerable years for them to turn over in their mind and it is this: Go to Classics and get some books. Take what you like. They’re free.
“Trenton kids can get their books for free,” said owner Eric Maywar. “Any book in the store. Whatever they want. If you’re a Trenton resident and go to school, or if you’re homeschooled, and if you’re in K-12, yes, they’re free. Usually I tell them they can have as many books as they can carry. And when they’re done they can come back and get more.” Repeat: Free books for kids. This is part of Maywar’s 10-years-and-going program called “Trenton Books at Home,” which has seen at least 80,000 — that’s right, 80,000 — books leave his store, for free, in the arms of Trenton kids or people who vow to make sure the books will get into the hands of Trenton kids.
How does Maywar pull off this feat? Through his paying customers, many of whom sell books to Maywar, take store credit, and then donate the credit to the Trenton Books at Home program. And if there’s overage, it comes out of Classics’ pocket. And that’s it.
Maywar used to solicit funds from local businesses and corporations to fund the enterprise, but ever since he got a job with the city as an economic development specialist, he wanted to make sure there was never a whiff of impropriety when it came to this charitable endeavor. Basically, he didn’t want to find himself in a position where a company with business in the city is all of a sudden donating thousands of dollars for books. It could look bad.
“I don’t want to get Tony Mack’ed,” Maywar deadpanned.
The program started when Maywar found himself on thenMayor Doug Palmer’s literacy committee.
“I was on it for no other reason than I had a bookstore,” Maywar said. “It was all educators, literacy experts, and I’m just sitting there on my thumbs. I said I have to do something useful, and they said I get books into kids hands. Then I thought maybe I can step that up.”
Some 80,000 books later, Maywar is still stepping.
He’s fond of pointing to a growing body of research that shows the more books in a home, the better the educational outcome for children. An Australian National University study showed kids with 80 or more books in their home as having higher literacy rates than those who didn’t, with the literacy rising in tandem with more books. It makes all the sense in the world, really. Grow up reading, your literacy rates are higher. But according to the study, so are numeracy rates and information communication.
Maywar is also quick to point out he’s but one of many Trenton businesses engaged in “social entrepreneurship,” where business owners make a point to give back to their community. An incomplete list Maywar provided me (and all probably worthy of future columns) include The Orchid Group (turning abandoned buildings into mixed-use properties), Razor Sharp Barber Shop (free back-to-school haircuts), and Paris Hair & Beauty Supplies (selling black-themed beauty supply items made by black entrepreneurs).
But for Maywar, it’s all about the books.
“The older kids, when they come in, they can’t believe it,” he said. “They’ll test me out, come to the counter with one book, and I’ll tell them they can have as many as they like.”
Maywar’s best memory of the program?
“A few years ago a kid was in here, so eager to go through the shelves,” he said. “Then after about five minutes all I hear is him screaming, ‘I love this place!’”
Kid’s right. It’s a great place.