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Friends to move Selene Sierra bookstore to front of Culpeper library as part of renovation
Summary
The Friends of the Culpeper County Library plan a midyear renovation to relocate the Selene Sierra bookstore to the library’s front for greater visibility; the bookstore is volunteer-run, charges low prices (most adult books $1), and contributes roughly $7,000–$10,000 annually to Friends funding.
The Friends of the Culpeper County Library plan to relocate the Selene Sierra bookstore from the library’s back room to a front-of-library location as part of a renovation intended to increase visibility and sales, the Friends’ president and the bookstore manager said in a recorded interview.
Nicole Wooten, president of the Friends of the Culpeper County Library, said the project is a partnership among the Friends, the library and the Culpeper Foundation and is scheduled to take place "midway through this year" (no exact date was provided). She said the move is intended to draw more patrons into the bookstore and to raise funds for programs the county does not fully fund.
Susie Josephson, the bookstore manager, described the Selene Sierra bookstore’s history and operations. She said founders Selene and Jenny McGura started the booksale effort in the early 2000s (the exact founding year is not specified). The store currently sells most adult books for about $1, children's books for about 50 cents, and a few newer or specialty titles for up to about $5. Magazines typically sell for 10–25 cents.
The bookstore is staffed by volunteers; Josephson said she became manager when the store reopened in 2021 after a COVID-related closure and that about 24–25 regular volunteers help operate the store. "We make about $7,000 or more a year" from the in-room sales and "pretty close to $10,000 a year" including additional sales, she said; those figures were presented as estimates.
Wooten said Friends was founded in 1997 and currently lists "a little over 150 members"; she said membership is $15 for individuals or families and higher tiers are available. Wooten and Josephson urged residents to support the store by donating books (two boxes or three bags per day limit when the library is open), volunteering (Friends prefers volunteers to join for $15 yearly) and buying books.
Next steps: Friends and the library will move forward with the renovation and bookstore relocation; Wooten and Josephson encouraged residents to check the library and Friends Facebook pages or email info@culperfol.org for updates and volunteer opportunities.
