SEMINOLE, Fla. — The grounds outside of Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church look like a cross between a library and a modern art installation.

Perhaps 100 people — toddlers, adults, the elderly — browse multiple bookshelves, pulling down titles, inspecting them, swapping out the books already in their arms for a new find.

“We usually get a minimum of around 1,000 on a weekend,” says George Brooks, 36.

Brooks used to work in the furniture business, until manufacturing shortages at the beginning of the COVID pandemic put a strain on his and his father’s company. He built the bookshelves on the church lawn himself.

“It’s amazing how when one door closes, another one opens, and leads down the hall to another opportunity,” he says.

Brooks and his wife run The Book Rescuers, a mobile used bookstore based in the Bay area. They buy remaindered books from bulk sellers like Amazon that need to clear out their stock for new titles and sell them at pop-up events wherever someone is willing to host them.

They bring more than 8,000 books of all types and genres, from children’s stories to nonfiction, and occasionally DVDs and artwork as well, and sell them all for a single dollar. Kids always get a free book each, and teachers can not only fill their own classroom shelves for half-price, but can also become sponsored, earning free resources and even a little cash to help with all they spend out of their own pockets for their students.

All of the books they sell were destined for the landfill or the shredder.

“We’ve found that most any book really wants a home,” says Brooks. “Especially for just a dollar.

The Lake Seminole Presbyterian sale is The Book Rescuers’ sixth; Brooks has only been at it since late March, when he held a few “test” events at their home and a few smaller venues.

“It’s been tremendous how much the community backs the idea,” he says. “We couldn’t be more blessed.”

The Book Rescuers’ next sale takes place Friday, June 25 and Saturday, June 26 from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days at The Public Studio House (formerly Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria), 2950 Central Avenue in St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District.