Old book expert to talk about finds

AMHERST – Are those old books you found in your grandmother’s attic rare first editions or just interesting?

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Kenneth Gloss of the Brattle Book Shop in Boston will be at the Amherst library to help with that decision. He will talk about old books, and people are invited to bring a book or two to talk about.

Gloss will discuss what an old book is and have examples, such as a volume about 500 years old, and things from the 1912 Red Sox World Series.

“I tell anecdotes about books I’ve seen,” Gloss said. “The program is not to teach people about books but to try to tell them stories and entertain. The goal is that they ... leave saying, ‘This is fun.’ The real draw is the books people bring with them.”

“Talks like this are an adventure,” he said. “You never know what might show up.”

Gloss has made numerous appearances on the PBS program “Antiques Roadshow” and gives frequent programs at libraries and historical societies.

People are frequently happy to find a book isn’t very valuable, he said.

“They want to give them to the grandchildren if they’re worth only a few dollars.” There is the sentiment attached to a relative’s books.

Gloss said the Internet has changed the landscape some, but there’s still value in the tangible shops.

Internet book shopping has cut into the used bookstores, he said, “but you still need the shop. The Internet is wonderful if you know what you are looking for. If you don’t, you need to go to a store and browse. The one you really want may be next to the one you thought you wanted.”

During the question and answer portion of the talk, he said, “I address what people want ... and do a couple of appraisals for the group.”

He usually also spend a half hour or so doing appraisals for people.

The program is part of the Amherst library’s adult evening series, reference librarian Ruslyn Vear said.

“Our mission is to provide residents with what they need. We are trying to help people save money and find resources,” Vear said.

“In February, (the program is) called ‘Cleaning House.’ On Feb. 16, the program will be ‘How to get rid of anything on the Internet,’” she said.

The program is free and open to the public. Preregistration is requested. To register, call 673-2288, e-mail library@amherst.lib.nh.us or visit www.amherst.lib.nh.us.

Jessie Salisbury can be reached at 654-9704 or jessies@tellink.net.