Tiburon founder of The Book Exchange will step down as its director after 37 years

Tiburon resident Marilyn Nemzer, who founded The Book Exchange in 1987, is stepping down as its director. The all-volunteer nonprofit has donated more than 1 million used books and focuses its efforts on distributing them to students at low-income schools. (via Marilyn Nemzer)

After nearly four decades of leading The Book Exchange, which has given more than 1 million books a second life in schools, libraries and homes, Tiburon resident Marilyn Nemzer is stepping down as executive director.

While she’s retiring from the position June 1, Nemzer will remain involved as a board member of the nonprofit, which she founded in 1987.

Nemzer’s time leading the all-volunteer agency has been storied. The Book Exchange distributes gently used books to students in Marin schools that receive Title I federal funding to support low-income students. Also known as The Global Book Exchange from about 2000 to 2022, it has shipped more than 100,000 books to 45 countries.

For its efforts, the nonprofit received the national Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2009 and the Award of Excellence from the Marin Economic Commission in 2004.

Nemzer, who also represents the Tiburon Peninsula on the Marin Board of Education, was herself recognized among the Bay Area’s top 25 volunteers in 2005 as a Points of Light honoree.

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