Deborah Case: Browsers Corner customers spread the joy of reading

Browsers Corner Book Store is known for its many dedicated, community-minded customers. They report that they enjoy shopping at Browsers for the great selection of quality used books and because the bookstore is a non-profit which donates up to 95 percent of its net profits to support the Carson City Library.

There are a select group of customers who take their community-mindedness a step further. These customers not only support the library through their purchases, but they also take advantage of the store’s low prices to spread the joy of reading to people in the community who may not otherwise be able to get their hands on a good book or magazine. This kind-hearted group of customers may volunteer at the local hospital, or at their church, or teach and need supplies, or are serving some other population.

Because all of the items at Browsers have been generously donated, the bookstore is able to sell its inventory for relatively low prices. In fact, some of the books and magazines with a bit more wear are listed at extremely low prices. If a book is still in good shape but well used, it will most likely be priced at 10 cents. If a book or magazine shows even more wear, it is likely to be free. A number of caring customers regularly visit the store, fill up bags and boxes with these books and magazines and drive off to distribute the goods to people in the community who really appreciate receiving them.

One such customer has been helping stock the TLC cart at Carson Tahoe Hospital for many years. She comes into the store every couple of weeks and collects free books and magazines to distribute to patients. She mentioned that she gets lots of requests for books and magazines focused on cars, trucks or planes as well as on sports.

The local prison is another recipient of good reading material. A customer visits the bookstore frequently to load up on free paperback novels and magazines to take back to her church which then coordinates with the prison to distribute them to inmates.

Another customer, a local middle school teacher, drops by the bookstore every semester to collect as many free magazines as she can carry. She said she is delighted to get these to take back to the students she teaches so they can cut out exactly the right photos to create vision boards to inspire their future dreams and goals.

Busy mothers who take their children to the Carson City pool (or who drop by to squeeze a little work out time for themselves into their busy schedules) are the main recipients of free books on a small bookshelf in the pool lobby. The customer who keeps the pool bookshelf stocked comes into Browsers regularly and collects bags of 10 cent and free books. She said she gets a lot of comments and thanks from busy moms who otherwise might not have been able to find the time to get themselves a book.

Browsers Corner Book Store, located directly across the street from the Carson City Library at 711 E. Washington St., is a nonprofit enterprise run by the Friends of the Carson City Library. The store has operated out of a little red brick house for eight years and to date has managed to donate $348,750 to support the Carson City Library.

The bookstore is entirely staffed by volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to make Browsers Corner a welcoming destination for shoppers. Drop by the store and explore their extensive collection of novels, children's books, history, self-help books and much more. It may inspire you to also spread the joy of reading around Carson City.