Bookworms like me have been very lucky during the past few months in that so much reading material exists online as e-books or even available for purchase to have hard copies delivered to your home. But there's still no real substitute for browsing through stacks and shelves, coming across a book you didn't know was out there, enjoying the look, the cover, the heft of the physical object. So it's nice to know that some of the bookstores of the Truckee Meadows have opened their doors back up for our book-buying pleasure. Photo at left: Pixabay.
For example, Sundance Books is open for in-store business from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. If you haven't been to visit this book and music store in their new location (or at least newish ... they made the move a few years ago), then you really do owe it to yourself to pop in and check it out. They are in the Levy Mansion at the corner of Sierra and California in the downtown area near the Nevada Museum of Art, and it is a fantastic venue in which to browse for reading material. For the time being, Sundance asks that all customers wear a mask or face covering while inside the store. They are limiting how many people can be inside at any given time and asking that everyone observe a 6-foot social distance. Other safety protocols involve having the surfaces in the store disinfected several different times during the day. Sundance Books also continues to offer curbside pick-up and home delivery. Photo at right: Facebook, Sundance Books and Music.
Another staple for local readers is Grassroots Books on Grove Street over near Costco and the REI store. The vibe here is a bit different than some other stores with thousands of offerings that range from discounted new books to tons of used and second-hand items. At Grassroots, you want to check your calendar to take advantage of the Warehouse sales and other big events. Just be aware that masks or face coverings are currently required onsite, and no cash is accepted in an effort to help reduce the potential spread of things that we don't want to be spread, and they ask that if the parking lot is full, please postpone your visit until there are fewer shoppers in the store. Grassroots is also the home of contactless payments by which you can pay for your sale items online or by phone. They also have a number to call for curbside pick-up. Photo at left: Facebook, Grassroots Books.
At the Barnes & Noble S. Virginia Street, book buying is pretty much back to business as usual, within the constraints of COVID-19 awareness. This means an adjusted schedule of 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. most days and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, but look for the hours to extend later into the evening before too long. All employees are using masks and face coverings, and while it is not required of customers, good manners would be that you follow suit if shopping here. And while there is a cap on the number of people allowed inside, this site is big enough that there hasn't been much of a problem accommodating those venturing out to purchase a book.
As for the Washoe County Library System, the latest news here is that this week begins implementation of Grab-and-Go and Drive-Up hold pick-ups. The process is that you can go online to place a hold on the book you want to check out, and you'll get a notification when it is ready. Then you visit the library and while observing proper precautions, pick up your holds and go along your merry way. The hold pick-up system is available at the Northwest, South Valleys and Spanish Springs branches in the Truckee Meadows and additional locations are being planned for early July. Bring your library card with you and wear a mask. Photo at right: Facebook, South Valleys Library.
About the Author Keith Rugg
R. Keith Rugg has worked on staff for a number of local publications, including Lake Tahoe Action Magazine, the Tahoe Daily Tribune and the Reno Gazette-Journal.
