Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Joyce Edelson can be found at the Books for International Goodwill Warehouse, sorting, shelving and packing literally thousands of books.

Ms. Edelson handles the bulk of organizing, shelving some in one of the 26 categories for the book sales, boxing others to ship to those who need them, or sending others to be recycled.

"I guess my motto is that the world will only improve through literacy," Ms. Edelson said. "What inspires me is that it's something I can do to help make the world a better place."

Originally a Parole Rotary Club project, B.I.G. now is a nonprofit organization that takes donated used books and sends them overseas, to Indian Reservations, and to local alternative schools, community organizations and jails.

They ship about 14 containers a year, with 25,000 books in each container. The six to eight booksales a year go to fund the operation.

"(Ms. Edelson) took on her own shoulders the responsibility for organizing the books for book sales," said Steve Frantzich, B.I.G.'s president.
"She does it independently and has drawn in other volunteers."

Mr. Frantzich said Ms. Edelson fine-tuned the sorting process, breaking larger categories into more specific ones. And her care has improved the quality of the sales.

"She's got her finger on what's there and not there, so when someone walks in the door and asks for a book, she can tell them if we have it or at least where to look for it," he said.

Ms. Edelson began volunteering consistently for B.I.G. over two years ago, though she has been somewhat involved for longer.

As president of the Parole Rotary Club, she began to work closely with B.I.G., and decided that when her presidency was over, she would step down in order to volunteer.

"Just knowing that you're making a difference in the world is rewarding," Ms. Edelson said.

But choosing which books to sell and which to pack is difficult.

"It's hard to not put every book we get in up there on the theory that someone might like it," she said.

The warehouse is neither heated nor cooled. "It's very hard work," Ms. Edelson said.

Besides volunteering around 20 hours a week, Ms. Edelson serves on the board of trustees. But B.I.G. is only one of her volunteer focuses.

As president of the Anne Arundel County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Ms. Edelson responds to as many as five calls a day from families in crisis. With a bachelor's and master's degree in mental health and counseling, Ms. Edelson feels prepared to help.

"Somebody blessed me with a great deal of energy, organizational ability and I hope a little bit of intelligence," she said.

She also serves on the Parole Rotary Club's Foundation Committee.

"I would say we are all given a finite time on this planet; we never know when that time will end," she said.

"We all have an obligation to leave this world a little better than we found it."

An avid reader herself, Ms. Edelson has a hard time understanding how anyone could be bored. She earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees after she retired from a career on Capitol Hill, and has written a book, "The Rock Creek Shaman," that is just about ready to be published.

Ms. Edelson lives in Riva with her partner, Don Gantzer, one dog and three cats. "I don't take my comfort for granted," she said.

She has one son, who lives in Trenton, N.J., one stepdaughter and three grandchildren.

B.I.G. book sales take place from time to time at the New B.I.G. Warehouse, Wayson's Corner at Triangle Tobacco Warehouse, 1325 Marlboro Road in Lothian. Book donations and volunteers are always welcome.


Article from "Official" Bugle of the Rotary Club of Parole (Annapolis)

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Celebrating B.I.G.'s 4 Millionth Book Donation 

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Author Joyce Edelson, a.k.a. Book Woman, and Rotary colleagues receiving a proclamation from Rotary District Governor Paul Frey, celebrating B.I.G.'s 4 millionth book donation.  Books for International Goodwill (B.I.G.) (www.Big-Books.org) is the signature project of the Parole (Annapolis) Rotary Club, of which the author is a past president.  Part of the proceeds from sales of her book, The Rock Creek Shaman, will benefit B.I.G.