Published: December 19, 2007 12:34 am         

Café launches in Peabody library’s young-adult section

PEABODY | Readers have long appreciated a book with a hot cup of joe.

At the city library, the pairing is much easier to come by with the opening of the Bookworm Café, which launched earlier this month in the main branch's young-adults section. The coffee-churning business is run by special education students in Peabody High's life skills classes and operates two hours daily.

The Bookworm Café got off the ground with a $10,000 job-training grant from the city's Community Development Department, special education teacher Linda Robbins said. The grant | written in collaboration with the North Shore Education Consortium | helped purchase the cart, blue uniform polo shirts with the café logo, two high-end single-serve coffee machines and supplies.

The café offers an assortment of flavored coffees, other hot drinks and baked goods like coffee cake and muffins purchased from the high school's culinary arts program. It's a portable business, kept primarily in a custom-made stainless steel pushcart that has space for dry storage and a small refrigerator.

Library director Martha Holden said the café is a welcome amenity at the Main Street library. She had wanted to offer hot drinks in the past, but the low volume wasn't attractive to coffee businesses.

"This is, for us, the perfect solution," said Holden, who added the coffee tastes good.

She said business had been steady for the students, and they're getting plenty of experience.

"Every transaction is a lesson for these kids," the library director said.

Three students in Linda Robbins' special education class are working at the café. Christina Gomes, a postgraduate, and seniors Justin DeFrancesco, 19, and Chris Batakis, 19, are part of the inaugural staff.

"I like working here," DeFrancesco said.

The food business is in DeFrancesco's blood. His family owns a produce shop in Salem, he said. DeFrancesco volunteered to work at the café.

Batakis also works as a bagger at Market Basket in Middleton. He finds the café work fun and easy.

"I like it," Batakis said. "I like coffee. I sell blueberry muffins and coffee cake."

The students get help from teaching aide Debbie Calderone, who is training the students on things like working the equipment and returning change.

Since the café opened, the would-be baristas have served about a dozen patrons daily. Calderone is hoping more coffee drinkers will get their daily caffeine fix from them.

"I think once the word gets out, it's going to be terrific," she said.

In time, Calderone hoped more students would be able to participate.

"This is something for the juniors to look forward to," she said.

Robbins also hopes the program will reach more students and eventually provide them with a stipend.

"We'd like to see this expand," she said.



The cup of life

r What: Bookworm Café

r When: Daily, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

r Where: Main branch library's "young-adults" section

r Cost: $1.25 drinks, $1 baked goods, $10 mug with $1 refills