The Friends of the Turlock Public Library have found a new home for their revenue generating Book Bin, but are still seeking a storage space for the collection sold during their annual book sale.

The organization is thrilled with the new home of the Book Bin in Gallery Finesse, but they are concerned the lack of storage has put the future of the annual book sale in jeopardy.

The library group sponsors two main fund raising campaigns for the benefit of the Turlock Library. One is the Book Bin, a year-round operation which offers readers a chance to purchase used books for a bargain price. The second is the organization’s annual book sale that routinely features more than 10,000 books. The books are sold for 50 cents and $1 and the proceeds generated from the sale help fund programs at the Turlock Library like children’s programs, acquiring new books, periodicals and furniture and other projects and programs not covered by the county’s library budget.

“Our annual book sale comprises most of our budget. It is a plus for folks who want to buy books and a huge plus for the Turlock Library,” said Brooks Judd, the group’s public advocate. “With the funds we give to the library the children's program can be kept running smoothly providing wonderful entertainment and learning skills for children.”

Earlier this year the group was told they would no longer be able to use the storage facility they had been using to store the books for the annual sale. About the same time they learned that Ritzy Ragz was closing their downtown store, resulting in the group losing their space for the Book Bin.

For months the group has had to stop or limit the book donations they previously accepted with gratitude, but now with the re-opening of the Book Bin they hope the tide is turning.

Their new home at Gallery Finesse came about as co-owners Regina Emig and Ken Kelleher were working on installing an annex to their downtown antique and fine arts store. Bringing down a wall revealed a recessed closet that would ultimately be the answer for the library group.

“Personally I am a book lover and the essence of the volunteer group is close to my heart,” said Emig. “We were doing some remodeling and they approached us with the idea and I instantly loved it. It just kind of all fell into place.”

The guests coming into the store have taken a shine to the addition as well, Emig said. They added built-in bookshelves to the area and have created a cozy little area for people to browse.

“Many of the people coming in love the background of the group and have said it’s very welcoming,” Emig said.

Now, the group is hoping to find a home for the large collection of  literature, cookbooks, biographies, travelogues, and all the other books they collect to help the community’s library. The group has been searching for months now for a space large enough to hold the tens of thousands of books they collect each year and they need that space to be rent free, because they don’t have the f funds to pay for an ongoing storage site. In the meantime they’ve started using garages, sheds, spares rooms, and any other nook offered to them.

They also are now hoping to build up the collection by taking in donations of used books.

For those who have books to donate or information about a space the group can use to store the books please phone Carmen at 632-6497, or e-mail brooksjudd@yahoo.com.