GUILDERLAND — Steve Kozlowski hasn’t been able to get his car in his garage for years.

It’s filled with 20,000 books.

Thirteen years ago, he coordinated the first used book sale for the AIDS Council of Northeaster New York.
"I started the project in 1993 when AIDS was in the news all the time," said Kozlowski. He had been a Literacy Volunteer, teaching English as a second language.
"I live near Stuyvesant Plaza and I wrote letters to various bookstores and libraries," he said. "Susan Novotny volunteered to hold a book drive in her vestibule."
Novotny is the owner of the "fiercely independent" Book House as it bills itself and, Kozlowski said, she has been "wonderfully supportive" over the years.

The project has grown to include other venues, too, and to include the selling of videos and CD’s as well as books. Last year, the project raised $80,000 for the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York to help meet special and emergency needs of its 1,500 clients.
The Book House has a "large and loyal clientele," which has been very supportive of the project, Kozlowski said. All year long, customers drop off used books at the store.

While Kozlowski said he will always accept more books, what he needs right now are more music, movies, and children’s books. He can be reached at 482-5602. And there is also information at the project’s website — www.HelpFightAIDS.com.
When Stuyvesant Plaza holds its two summer sidewalk sales, Novotny donates the space in front of her store to the "Help Fight AIDS Through Books and Music" project. The plaza’s Sidewalk Sale Days this year are on Saturday, June 24, and Saturday, Aug. 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Three layers

There are now three layers to his project, Kozlowski said.

The first continues to be community book sales, which are also held at the Empire State Plaza and, during the Christmas holidays, at area malls.

The second is selling Entertainment Books at various local book stores. His project is the Capital Region’s number-one seller of Entertainment Books, which offer discounts to a wide variety of local venues. At the upcoming sidewalk sale, 2006 Entertainment Books will be given away free to customers who order a 2007 version, said Kozlowski.

The third layer is selling books on-line through eBay.

Kozlowski, who works near home for the state’s Department of Labor, returns to his book-filled domicile during his lunch hour to work on the project. He has a corps of 50 to 100 volunteers that work on the project.

Over the years, he’s been recognized for his extraordinary efforts; he was named a Red Cross Hometown Hero, among other honors.
"I like being my own boss," said Kozlowski.

He’s 55, his two children are grown — he now has two grandchildren and plenty of energy, Kozlowski said. He puts in about 1,200 volunteer hours a year on the project.
What keeps him at it"
"I like helping people who really need it," said Kozlowski.