Books donated to Sebastian County jail

Mary Jane Mustard was the first to say it.

"Buck A Book," she said one day while working at the St. John's Episcopal Church Bookstore in Fort Smith. She was talking about a stack of books that had been leftover from a sale. The name stuck for a program to give books away for free.

This is the name for an ongoing roundup of hundreds of donated books a month that find a new home in the Sebastian County Jail or at assisted living centers.

Seven years ago, Mustard started the program to get the most use out of books.

"I started it. I'm the coordinator." She spelled out her last name, "M-u-s-t-a-r-d. Just like you put on your hamburger."

She recalls walking down a hallway of the St. John's Episcopal Church, 214 N. 6. In the bookstore open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekly, there are books for $1. Some of the antique books are $5, such as several written by Winston Churchill, Mustard said.

There was a bunch of books over by the bookstore leftover from a sale, she said..

"I said, "Why can't we put them out and let people have them?" Mustard recalled.

On a Sunday morning she sold those leftovers for a "Buck a Book." The name stuck."Seben years later here we are,"

The books that are free are taken to the jail. Those are the paperbacks that are used.

"We take them regularly now. We had been shut down for COVID and we had not been allowed to take any," Mustard said.

Before the pandemic, church volunteers delivered books to 31 assisted living centers, she said. Book donations have resumed.

A volunteer from the church takes the paperbacks to jail.

"Hardbacks are considered a weapon," Mustard said.

Books are also donated to the Community Rescue Mission.

"It's just an outreach that costs nobody any money," Mustard said.

There are children's books.

"We encourage parents to read to their children at night," Mustard said. "It's an ongoing ministry."

She said thousands of books have been donated, and hundreds are donated each month. A volunteer from the church takes boxes to the jail. There were seven boxes of books donated to Savers recently to go toward the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club.

Donations of books can be arranged by calling Mustard at 479-883-1488.