Browsers Corner Bookstore celebrates second anniversary

When Julie Giese moved back to her hometown seven years ago after 35 years away, she realized much had changed.

“There were so many new faces,” she said.

And while the Carson City Library was no longer on main street where she visited as a girl, she saw it still played a pivotal role in the community.

“I wanted to find a way to get involved,” she said.

At the suggestion of her friend, she began volunteering at the Friends of the Carson City Library’s Browsers Corner Bookstore.

“I like the camaraderie,” Giese said. “It’s a good way to give back to the community that gave so much to me.”

This week, she will join her 60 fellow volunteers and the community in celebrating the bookstore’s second anniversary in its new location across the street from the library.

“Everybody who comes in here just loves it,” said Phyllis Patton, president of Friends of the Carson City Library. “They think it’s just marvelous.”

The anniversary will be recognized Wednesday with special treats for customers, along with a 10 percent discount on all items in the store. VIP grandstand tickets for Retired Senior Volunteers Program’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show will also be raffled.

The store sells gently used books, audio books, CDs, cassette tapes, DVDs as well as puzzles, games and magazines.

“We are dependent on the community for our inventory,” Patton said.

The bookstore is the major fundraising mechanism for the Friends, which donates proceeds to the library.

Funds are used to pay for programs, such as Summer Learning and National Library Week activities. Friends also supplies much of the library’s book and e-book collection and helps update software and new computers.

The bookstore was housed for about 20 years in a 100-square-foot corner in the library.

During that time, the majority of the books were stored in storage units. Three years ago, Browsers Bookstore moved into a storage space, which was open to the public a day-and-a-half a month.

“I knew we had to be open all the time so people could see all these books,” Patton said.

Two years ago, the store moved to its current location, utilizing 1,750 square feet for displaying books and open Monday through Saturday.

Set up like a traditional bookstore, books are organized by category. Patton said inventory changes constantly, with volunteers removing any books that haven’t been purchased in three months.

“It’s a nice, warm, friendly space,” Patton said. “It’s so welcoming.”