NEWS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               DATE: 8/22/07 CONTACT : LESLIE SCHALER, COMMUNICATION ASST., (413) 545-0162 UMass Amherst LibrariesHosts Lecture and Reception September 30 “Treasures in Your Attic: Old and Rare Books” Amherst, MA – On Sunday, September 30 from 2:00-4:00 p.m., the Friends of the UMass Amherst Libraries will hold their 9th Annual Donor Appreciation Reception in Memorial Hall at UMass Amherst.  Kenneth Gloss, proprietor of the nationally known Brattle Book Shop in Boston will give a talk entitled, “Treasures in Your Attic: Old and Rare Books” starting at 3:00 p.m.  The event is free and open to the public. As part of the program, Howard and Joy Gersten of the Jeffery Amherst Bookshop in Amherst will be honored with the 2007 Siegfried Feller Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. This award, established in 1998, is given annually to individuals who have made outstanding volunteer contributions to create awareness and build support for the UMass Amherst Libraries.  During the event, Ken Gloss will appraise books that guests bring with them.  “New England homes are treasure-troves for old and rare books that have increased in value over the years,” says Gloss. “We invite the public to bring any volumes they want to know about to the lecture for a free verbal appraisal.” The Brattle Book Shop is one of America’s oldest and largest antiquarian bookstores. Ken Gloss succeeded his late father, George Gloss - a well-known figure both in Boston and inter­national antiquarian circles. He had worked in the store since childhood and chose to go into the book business rather than pursue a doctorate in chemistry. He became the sole proprietor upon his father’s death several years ago. “I found that books were in my blood and that I would never be really happy if I abandoned the business.” Gloss ’73 is a member and past president of the New England Antiquarian Booksellers Association, member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, the Bostonian Society and the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Antiquarian Booksellers. He serves as a member of the advisory board of the USS Constitution Museum and was a member of the advisory committee of the Boston Public Library. He is a recipient of The Historic Neighborhoods Foundation award for making a definitive contribution to the design and social heritage of Boston and has been honored by the Brookline Preservation Commission for his donation of the original plans of the famous Larz Anderson estate. The Brattle Book Shop is also proud to have been a contributor to the WGBH Annual Auction each and every year that the station has held its fund drive. Gloss is seen on PBS’ Antiques Roadshow from time to time and has been a popular guest on WBZ Radio as well as other radio, TV and cable stations on numerous occasions both in New England and nationally. Gloss will bring to the lecture several examples of interesting books, magazines and ephemera from the store’s private collection, such as a 1912 World Series scorecard and examples of old LIFE Magazines. (He owns the complete set!) He also has a sales brochure for the Titanic. Following the lecture and question-and-answer session he will give free verbal appraisals of those books that people bring with them. For further information, call or email Emily Silverman of the UMass Amherst Libraries at (413) 545-0995, essilverman@library.umass.edu.  For more information about the Brattle Bookshop call 800-447-9595, or go to www.brattlebookshop.com.  RSVPs are requested (but not required) by September 24, to Susan McBride at (413) 545-3974 or friends@library.umass.edu.  UMass Catering will provide refreshments.