In January 2023, amidst the climate of online placements, Zoom meetings, and email exchanges, I found myself feeling the urge to search for something slightly different – for a new environment in which to learn. I wanted an opportunity to physically get involved in something outside the confines of my bedroom, and away from my laptop screen. I wanted somewhere to go, somewhere to be useful.

During a habitual scroll through Indeed, my interest was instantly piqued by an advert calling for a ‘Volunteer Bookworm’. Immediately, I knew this would be the role for me. Therefore, alongside my placement at the publishing house SmashBear, and an editorial role with the Edinburgh Literary Salon, I decided to get my hands dirty – quite literally, secondhand books can be surprisingly filthy – by volunteering with the British Heart Foundation. For a few hours each week I escape into a world of books – diving into the bags of donations and filtering through the worn copies of Fifty Shades of Grey to see which hidden gems I can uncover.

Whilst my other placements have allowed me to see the publishing process of a book from start to finish, my experience at the charity shop has shown me how books can live on long after their publication date. I have seen the birth of books within publishing houses, as well as their rebirths as they pass from owner to owner through the medium of the secondhand bookshop. 

My duties at the British Heart Foundation involve sorting through and pricing the donations, identifying themes and building displays around them, chatting with customers, and generally keeping the book section organised and up to date. It is both an enjoyable and challenging role, one of the biggest challenges being to resist the temptation to buy every book I see. 

Some of my favourite finds so far include a beautiful copy of Fairy Tales from the Arabian Nights, with intricate illustrations and a gold embossed cover. Not only was this edition aesthetically captivating, but tucked away inside the pages was a tiny advert for a competition with a stationary company, dated 1924. This is one of countless examples of why I love secondhand books so much; I find it fascinating to imagine the rich lives they have lived before and discover the remnants of readers left behind within their pages. From inscriptions and messages on inside covers, to abandoned train tickets used as makeshift bookmarks, every book has a story. 

Perhaps the most well-travelled book I have encountered during my time at the British Heart Foundation has been a copy of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, taken from a middle school library in Montgomery, Alabama. How did this book come to be in Edinburgh? Where will it journey to next? In this way, it is evident how books can conjure stories within our minds before we have even read the actual text.

This experience has really made me realise the significance of the publishing industry. The books we publish today could long outlive us, and influence generations for years to come. They will act as time capsules, offering a lens into our society through their written content, as well as through the secret notes and memorabilia obscured between their pages.

Twitter: @natquinn2000