The Astoria Library Friends Association will open a new bookstore within the library

The Astoria Public Library went through a major renovation that culminated this fall.

Published in the Discover Our Coast Magazine on 6:08 am Thursday, April 2, 2026

By Heather Douglas‍ ‍

Library aficionado and former teacher Patsy Oser loves to spread the joy of reading. For eight years, she read books to students at Astor Elementary School starting in 2012 twice a week. “I read over 1500 stories and used my own books. I beat the gym teacher in popularity,” she joked.

Oser is Vice Chair of the Astoria Library Friends Association (ALFA), a group supporting library programs and projects of the Astoria Public Library since 1982. The group’s new bookstore will open to the public 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday April 4 at the Astoria Public Library, 450 10th St. For updates and information as the bookstore evolves, visit: astorialibraryfriends.org.

Oser, who moved to Astoria from Chicago in 2011, had the idea of creating a book store within the newly renovated library from a library in Wilmette, Illinois that sold used books in the basement generating thousands of dollars of revenue each year to help support their library programs. Oser liked the idea. “Why can’t we do that in Astoria,” she said.

Starting out, the new bookstore will sell used books, but there may be more offerings in the future. Pat Thomas, Chair of ALFA, is pleased with the idea and how it supports the mission of ALFA. “Our main job is to support the library programs where the city budget doesn’t. By selling our books if we have a special project, this will provide extra money to do that,” she said.

Thomas added that people who love libraries look for places to donate and buy used books. In turn, the sales help fund library programs. “This is a great way for us to raise money for library programs and events. Whatever we can do to raise money — used books are a great way to do that.”

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