WARNER ROBINS -- The Houston County Friends of the Library has a new space to call home.

Now at the old post office at 200 N. Davis Drive, the group has decided to open up a book store Saturdays to help raise money for the libraries. The grand opening was Nov. 3.

“This is the first time in eight years that we have had a book storage facility large enough to accommodate an ongoing book store,” said Pamela Yates, vice president of Friends of the Library.

The group previously had a space in the Big Lots shopping center.

From 10 a.m.-noon each Saturday, more than 500 books will be available for purchase for 50 cents each or three for $1, including records and VHS tapes. There are also encyclopedia sets for a few dollars as well.

“We just think of ideas to make more money,” said Sylvia Harvey, a member of the board of directors for Friends of the Library.

The group came up with opening a book store because for nine months out of the year, volunteers will be working at the site, sorting and pricing donated books in preparation for the annual Old Book Sale.

The volunteers are at the new site Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

“We’re here anyway,” said Harvey of opening a store for a few hours Saturdays.

About 15 to 20 volunteers help throughout the year, but with the amount of books needed to be sorted, the group could always use the help.

Most of the books at the store are older books. There is a variety from fiction to non-fiction, with some cookbooks and children’s books as well.

The group will save the newer books for its big sale at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, which happens May 2-4.

Once the books are sold, the stock will be replenished with books from the back of the store, which are set up by category for the May sale.

The profits are given to the libraries of Houston County to help buy more books.

“It doesn’t cost anything to look, and you might find what you are looking for,” Harvey said.