Library celebrating 10th year of used book sales

It's not as if between 25 cents and $2, most books at the Browser's Corner at the Carson City Library aren't a steal.

But to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the small, used book store, all books at the Browser's Corner are half off through Saturday. That's right -- books for as little as a quarter.

Dot Carpenter drove from Yerington on Monday to take advantage of the sale. Eight books, one videotape and $6 later, Carpenter left with enough hardback Tom Clancy selections to keep her husband entertained for a few weeks.

"It's the best recycling ever invented," she said. "We'd come anytime."

Tucked into a corner of the library, the book store is run completely by volunteers, the brainchild of volunteers serving in the Friends of the Carson City Library, a group which supports activities at the library. Flo Collins and her daughter, Jean Mathwig, started the Browser's Corner a decade ago as a way to help fund library events. Books are donated to the library frequently.

Library Director Sally Edwards said some of the books make it into the library collection, "but the 15th copy of some best seller...we don't need it." Those books go to the Corner and are sold.

Collins said prices are kept low, really low, to encourage people to come shop and to not compete with used book store owners. As a matter of fact, she said, book dealers shop at the Corner, too.

"People like the prices and they like that they can find something no longer in print," Collins said. "We just get a lot of nice comments on it."

Paul Strohm, of Silver Springs, dug through rows of books, two psychology books already in hand.

"You can find some interesting books at affordable prices," he said. "This raises some revenue. I don't think libraries are particularly well supported nationwide, particularly in Nevada."

Browser's Corner pulls in between $6,000 and $9,000 annually, and helps the library fund such events as their summer reading program and National Library Week in April.

"The library couldn't exist without the friends," Edwards said.

After 10 years of consistent volunteering at the Corner, Collins is going to take a break. Other volunteers will, hopefully, take her place.

"I've been doing it for 10 years, and I need a break," she said. "People really enjoy it. I get a big kick out of it. As long as everybody's having fun and we make the library some money, we're doing good."

Brower's Corner will be open until 8 p.m. today through Thursday and until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For information, call 887-2244.

For your information

All books at the Carson City Library's Brower's Corner are half off through Saturday. Browser's Corner will be open until 8 p.m. today through Thursday and until 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For information, call 887-2244.