SMITHVILLE – They say book readers are a dying breed. With the rise in popularity of gadgets like e-readers and easy to use apps that allow for book downloads, it’s easy to think that curling up with a good book may just be a lost pastime.

Enter the Book Peddler, a new business selling used books in the tiny Hamlet of Smithville Flats. Motivated by his love of reading – and his collection of nearly 15,000 books – Phillip Montelione, owner of the Book Peddler, opened the doors of his store two weeks ago, much to the delight of book lovers across the area.

“I used to go around and just pick books for fun. But I love to read, I love the books, and I had an opportunity. So I thought, why not try it?” said Montelione. “My grand opening was a big event,” he added. “I had a lot of people come out. I think I’m getting a pretty good reception so far.”

The Book Peddler currently has more than 7,000 titles on hand, ranging in categories of both fiction and non-fiction. In addition, the store offers a small variety of antique collectibles and rare oddities.

Montelione said for him, reading has always been a way of life. His hobby of book-picking recently led to the opportunity to purchase a locker of more than 12,000 books, giving him the jump-start needed to open his business venture. With countless hours of help from friends and family, he took on the agonizing task of categorizing, alphabetizing, and filling book shelves.