There’s a new store in town!

The Douglas County Library Friends and Foundation recently opened a used bookstore right inside the county library in Alexandria.

The store features hundreds of high quality used books, including popular fiction and non-fiction in hardcover and paperback. Categories include best sellers, mystery, romance, science fiction, biography, children’s, cooking, history, audio/visual and more.

The profits from the book sales go directly to support the Douglas County Library’s book inventory, equipment requests, programs, events and other needed resources.

The store is currently open Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m. (Hours are subject to change; other days may be added in the future.) Only cash or checks are accepted.

The store is staffed by volunteers, and all of the books are donated.

The idea for a used bookstore in the library was originally shared by long-time library supporter, Joan Larson, in 1981.

The store was a goal of the Friends and Foundation group for many years, but finding space for it was an obstacle.

Recently, a study room at the library was cleared out to make room for the store.

To add a bit of history and nostalgia, shelving from the former library site – the historic Carnegie Building at 7th and Fillmore in Alexandria – was brought out of storage and put in the new store.

Finding books for the store wasn’t a problem. The Friends and Foundation group has hosted an annual used book sale since 1982. Donations are accepted all year long and stored for the big sale. After the sale, all remaining books are recycled, and new donations accepted.

“The book donations we get are just amazing,” said Priscilla Reineke, a Friends of the Library member and the volunteer bookstore coordinator. “It’s unbelievable how many books come in each year.”

According to Friends of the Library board member, Del Mari Runck, there were eight tables of books for sale the first year, and less than $200 was raised. In 2009, there were more than 100 tables of books, and $13,000 was raised for the library.

“It’s amazing to see how that event has grown, and how much money is generated for the library,” Runck said.

Book donations are sorted as they come in, and high quality books of a variety of topics are selected for the bookstore. The rest go into storage for the annual sale.

“We will still have that one big sale each year,” Reineke stressed. “The store isn’t replacing that.”

This year’s sale is set for Thursday, August 5 at the National Guard Armory in Alexandria. Thousands of books have already been donated for that event, but more are always welcome.

Book donations may be dropped off at the Douglas County Library during library hours.

According to Reineke and Runck, book donations and the hours donated by volunteers to help with the annual book sale and the bookstore are more valuable than ever.

“With the budget cuts the library has seen, this is needed now more than ever,” Reineke said. “The proceeds [from the store] support the library. That’s the most important thing.”

Douglas County Library Friends and Foundation

The mission of the group, commonly referred to as the Friends of the Library, is to support and promote the Douglas County Library.

Membership is open to anyone who shares the desire to fulfill the mission and the goals. Goals are:

• To focus public attention on library services, facilities and needs.
• To stimulate gifts of books, magazines, desirable collections, endowments and bequests.
• To maintain an association of persons interested in the library.

The group sponsors author events, a book club, fundraising such as an annual used book sale and cookie walk, a quarterly newsletter, National Library Week events, book sorting and an annual meeting.
Board meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month in the library meeting room. All meetings are open to members and their guests.

Individual membership is $10, family member is $15, business membership is $30 and patron membership is $50.

To become a member or learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit the library check-out desk.