Puerto de la Cruz Bookshop Fuels Global Projects Through Secondhand Sales

At 23 Iriarte Street, on the corner of Esquivel in Puerto de la Cruz, books are given a second chance and help fund social, educational, and environmental projects worldwide.

This is the Manos Unidas second-hand bookshop. Until about two months ago, it was located at the Casa de los Agustinos, where the NGO held its traditional flea market. The Tenerife Island Council bought that property, requiring a move. The new location, which opened in September, has proven to be a good change, with visitor numbers steadily increasing, especially with Christmas approaching.

Margarita González Carrillo, who manages the flea market, explained that the previous spot was more hidden in a courtyard, whereas the current location is more visible. This increased visibility has led to more people visiting, many of whom are looking for specific titles. She works with a team of daily rotating volunteers.

All the books are donations and are sold for very low prices, usually no more than five euros, depending on their condition.

Ricardo Richter, the regional representative for Manos Unidas, mentioned that a few very special or old books in excellent condition might cost a little more. The condition of the books is the first thing they check when they receive them.

The bookshop offers a wide variety of genres, including children's books, novels, crime fiction, history, poetry, essays, and books for young adults. You can also find books in different languages, mostly English and German, but also Italian and Danish.

Like any good flea market, there are many unique finds. Ricardo highlighted out-of-print books that are a collector's dream, such as the recently sold Mortadelo and Filemón comic books and a trilogy of Puerto de la Cruz comics that are no longer available elsewhere.

As Manos Unidas is an NGO linked to the Catholic Church, it might seem unusual to find a copy of the Quran in the religion section. Ricardo explained, "Because it is a book." He recalled that when he worked at the municipal library for 13 years, many people would ask for the Quran during Ramadan.

The bookshop has a special atmosphere. It also sells magazine collections, some dating back to the 1980s, vinyl records, and literary-themed items like glasses, notebooks, suitcases, backpacks, pencils, a typewriter, and a gramophone, which tend to sell quickly.

Margarita noted that many people buy books, read them, and then return them. This is a common practice for tourists visiting the city. She also encouraged people to donate books, saying that "the story continues" with each one. All profits from the book sales go towards social projects that aim to make a difference. Each year, a different branch of Manos Unidas chooses an initiative to support, focusing on areas like the environment, water and sanitation, education, food, health, women's rights, or human rights. Their last project involved building a kindergarten in Cambodia, and their current project aims to help people find work and integrate into society in Wau, a city in South Sudan that has seen an increase in refugees due to war.

Ricardo added that they also help people clear out books from their homes, as many individuals don't know what to do with them, especially since there are very few places left in Puerto de la Cruz where they can be donated.