Book store to support the Kewaunee library reopens in new location

KEWAUNEE - The Friends of the Kewaunee Public Library celebrated their 50th anniversary last year by being forced to find a new home for their book store.

But that cloud came with something of a silver lining, as the group recently reopened in a new location that Friends president Becky Carter said is better and more suitable for running a small, nonprofit book store.

The Friends Book Shoppe reopened Feb. 4 in its new space at 513 Milwaukee St. after years in its previous location on Ellis Street, which closed at the end of October. Between then and February, the Friends group and other volunteers were busy moving their books, other media, shelves and equipment to the new store.

As a volunteer support group for the Kewaunee Public Library, the Friends' mission is to provide added support to the library that allows it to offer services that would not be provided for in its budget.

The book store is one of the group's avenues to raise funds. It carries gently used books and magazines for children and adults, CDs, puzzles and games. Carter said about half of their inventory is donated by people clearing space on their shelves, in some cases moving and not wanting to pack and transport all that media, and half comes from the library itself.

Packing and transporting books and other media is what the Friends faced last year when the landlord of their previous store, which was in a building that also housed three apartments, gave them six months' notice to close and move no later than Dec. 1.

The Friends were able to find an available building late in the year and spent three months – from November to February – setting up shop.

The new store is a little smaller than the previous one – 750 square feet versus 920 – but Carter said it offers several advantages. For one, the Friends were able to set up the main room of the shop with bookshelves all around, instead of two tables of merchandise on the middle of the room with shelves against the walls as it was before.

Also, the store will now remain open year-round. The rent was less for the old site, Carter said, but it had no heat, so the store would close from November to April each year and rely on space heaters, if needed. The new store does have heat, so it can, and will, stay in business through the cold winter months.

Plus, Carter said the ambience of the new space is an improvement.

"It actually looks better, sets up better," she said. "It's lighter and brighter. This is one of the coziest, nicest and brightest book stores around."

The shop also has a children's room that not only has books but also games, including hopscotch, to keep the young 'uns entertained while the adults snoop around for books.

"When children come in and see the room, they just squeal with delight," Carter said.

The Friends of the Kewaunee Public Library Book Shoppe is at 513 Milwaukee St. (State 42). It is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit facebook.com/kewauneelibfriends.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@doorcountyadvocate.com.

MORE: Kewaunee High School student is testing his culinary skills in SkillsUSA Wisconsin Culinary Arts Competition

MORE: Algoma boy's trip to Milwaukee Brewers spring training turns him into a new fan

WANT MORE KEWAUNEE COUNTY NEWS? Read the Star-News online

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Book store to support the Kewaunee library reopens in new location