Used books from all genres will be available to the public next week with the grand opening of the Friends’ Bookstore inside the Turlock Public Library.

Friends’ Bookstore will open at 10 a.m. on Sept. 15 at the Turlock Library giving the public the opportunity to buy used books with all the proceeds going to the Turlock Library.

“We want to make money for the library and get books in the people’s hands,” said Christine Nielsen, committee member for the bookstore.

The used bookstore will have “well over 1,000 books” available that will include newer fiction, non-fiction, coffee table books, collectibles, nostalgic books, children’s books, etc. Book prices range from 50 cents to $5 per book with the average book costing about $3, Nielsen said. Hard cover books are the most expensive at $5. There will also be a bargain cart with books priced from 50 cents to $1, she said.

Friends of the Library groups in Modesto and Riverbank have had very successful used bookstores so the Turlock nonprofit group decided to give it a try, Nielsen said.

All books have been donated from community members for the used bookstore. The Turlock Library gets the first choice of books then the rest are given to the Friends’ Bookstore to be sold.

The name of the used bookstore was chosen from a contest conducted by the Turlock Public Library in August where over 30 entries were received. Jayne Smith, a member of the Friends of Turlock Public Library, submitted the winning name of the Friends’ Bookstore.

To help prepare the used bookstore for opening, Lowe’s in Turlock donated supplies to revamp the room for the grand opening next week.

The Friends’ Bookstore will be run by volunteers only. More volunteers are needed. There are no set hours for the used bookstore as of yet with volunteers only available for limited hours at different times. The bookstore is hoping to receive more help from volunteers to keep the bookstore open for more hours.

To volunteer to work at the Friends’ Bookstore, call Bookstore Committee Member Nielsen at 667-7075. 

All proceeds from the used bookstore go to Turlock Library funding, repairs and, hopefully, a new library in the future. If interested in donating books, drop off them off at the library below the Friends of the Library bulletin board.

To contact Maegan Martens, e-mail mmartens@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.