Well Thumbed Books turns five years old this September and will hold celebrations for the occasion.

The service is nothing like that provided by Bernard Black of the cult television show Black Books, as customers are invited to take their time meandering through the shop’s cosy four rooms filled with books.

People have even written some of their theses on the wide table in one of the back rooms, as it is a quiet place to work.

Louise Brown, Virginia White, Heather O’Connor, Chris Haynes and Linda Sang are the team behind the bookshop.

“Our business plan was to have fun and access to loads and loads of books,” Ms Brown said.

“We decided at the very beginning that we wanted five [people], as we’ve all got lives so this way we only have one day a week in the shop.”

Before opening, the biggest concern of the group was whether or not they would be able to get enough books to fill their business.

“But if you open a second-hand book shop, basically they just walk in,” Ms Brown said.

There was plenty of interest in Well Thumbed Books’ products as soon as they opened.

Now, the busiest period of their year is across Christmas and January.

“There are people who come down every year over Christmas and coming into the bookshop is part of what they do on their holidays,” Ms Brown said.

“Sometimes they buy the most extraordinary books.

“You do look at some books and think ‘is anyone going to buy that?’.

“Usually non-fiction, like 1602-1610 baroque music or something like that.”  

The shop space was once a bakery – the old woodfired oven is still there – and the many rooms add to the bookshop’s charm.

“It’s kind of like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Ms Brown said.

“You open the door and step into another world.”

Well Thumbed Books will hold its birthday celebrations on Saturday, September 5.

All books will be 50 per cent off from 9am, there will be one of the bookshop’s famous morning teas from 10am and author Rose Roberts will launch her children’s book The Adventures of Duck and Goose at 11am.

There will also be a garage sale, the proceeds of which will go towards refugees living in detention.

The bookshop is located on the Princes Hwy, Cobargo.