Students from Bainbridge-Guilford High School spent Saturday, March 26 helping the Paperback Exchange (PBX) move and paint bookshelves for their new location in Creative Works at 17-19 South Broad Street in Norwich. (Photo from the Paperback Exchange Facebook page)

NORWICH – The long-anticipated grand re-opening of the Paperback Exchange (PBX) will take place at 10:30 a.m. on April 23 with a commemorative ribbon cutting at the bookstore’s new space in “Creative Works,” located at 17-19 South Broad Street in Norwich.

The celebration is planned to commemorate “World Book Day,” an annual milestone originally established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright.

“We are so very grateful for the nearly two decades that PBX has served patrons on our museum campus,” said Jessica Moquin, Chenango County Historical Society executive director. “As a beloved community resource, this relocation to a more central venue – with higher visibility, greater accessibility, larger storage space, extended open hours, and increased traffic – is ideally suited for the bookstore’s long-term sustainability.”

The grand re-opening also marks a new partnership between the Chenango Foundation and PBX. Assisted by a dedicated cohort of volunteers, local residents Kisten and Tony Giglio are serving as coordinators of bookstore operations moving forward, with the Chenango Foundation managing the financial needs of the retail business.

“The Chenango Foundation is proud of the work that we do as a vehicle for community development projects,” said Commerce Chenango President & CEO Kerri Green. “This is a wonderful example of collaboration that will enhance the entire community.”

“We are excited to be working with everyone on this new venture,” said Kisten. “Community members and potential volunteers are encouraged to reach out to us with any questions or ideas. We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you in our new space very soon!”

Known as PBX, the Paperback Exchange allows patrons to trade in previously read fictional paperback books in exchange for store credit towards future purchases of books in the shop. This low-cost opportunity to refresh personal libraries is an ideal way to promote literacy while supporting community development. For more details, visit www.facebook.com/PBXPaperbackExchange.

-From the Paperback Exchange