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Friends of the Truckee Library: Creating storage space for books

If you haven’t heard the buzz about Building for Books and#8212; the move to build a new and bigger public library for the Truckee community and#8212; then you must have been having too much summer fun backpacking or camping or spending your days at the beach, pool or on the golf links. It is exciting indeed to imagine everything a new library structure could be and all the services it could offer to both full- and part-time residents.But, meanwhile and#8212; and and#8220;meanwhileand#8221; could last for several years while the Friends gather ideas, funding and momentum and#8212; we will have to manage in our current building. If you’ve had cause to visit the library in recent years, you know only too well how cramped it is. With more than 100,000 visitors annually (at last count), our community library is bursting at the seams. It’s one thing to have no place to sit, hold events or store donated books for a used book sale. It’s another to not have any more room for books.

Right now, the only way to add more books to the collection is to get rid of existing books in the collection. That may sound straightforward, but what would you choose to haul to the Dumpster? Classics that haven’t checked out for a while? Books about Truckee history that are now out of print? How-to books about specialized skills like crafting snowshoes or making soap?

Earlier this spring, a focus group of Friends came up with another idea: What about finding storage space to store some books in the collection that are infrequently used but too valuable and useful to part with. The Contractors Association of Truckee Tahoe (CATT) generously offered the services of local architect Peter Gerdin who came up with a design for a storage shed on the south side of the building. Suddenly there was the hope of light at the end of the tunnel. The library staff started counting how many books could be moved and began dreaming about room to sit and shelf space for new books.



But then the wheels ground to a halt. Without money for an engineer to review the plans, and no funds for materials and labor, the project stalled. And it continues to idle. The storage area is a mere 8 x 15 feet on a concrete pad with a shed roof. If you would like to donate time, materials, and / or labor to help see the library through the next couple of years, then the library wants you. Please see a member of the staff if you can help.

Library Hours



Monday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Tuesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Wednesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Thursday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Bookshelfand#8217;s Dry Camp Book Club

Meets monthly at the Library. Participants at the book group meeting will receive a coupon for 15 percent off a one-time book purchase at the Bookshelf at Hooligan Rocks. Everyone is welcome.

Now on display at the library:

and#8226; Portraits by Truckee artist Raphael Jolly

and#8226; Above the Fireplace: Sand Harbor in oils by Linda Dand#8217;Toole


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