SKOWHEGAN — Jess Roy has always liked books. And she had a garage that did little more than hold recyclables.

So this summer, while searching for a librarian job, Roy took matters into her own hands and turned the garage into a used book shop.

“I always wanted to own a bookstore,” Roy said. “I feel like that’s a lot of people’s dreams. I was like, ‘You know what, maybe I could make something out of this.’”

Cat Yard Book Shop, in one of the two garages at Roy’s 1890s farmhouse overlooking the Kennebec River at 30 Alder St., has been open since August.

It opened to great, somewhat surprising fanfare— about 40 customers on its first day, Roy said — but business has slowed a bit in the winter months.

The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, although Roy plans to be open more days in the warmer months, when it is not so costly to heat the space. She said updates to opening hours would be posted to the shop’s Facebook page. Payment is only accepted in cash or through Venmo.

The space is about 250 square feet, or about the size for one car. It holds a handful of bookshelves, including one that matches the paint Roy happened to have on hand this summer when she was fixing up the garage, with titles from all genres. The garage fits a couple of chairs, too.

The store’s name is a nod to Roy’s four cats, who she said sometimes hang out in the shop.

Roy, 45, sells used books that she mostly collects on her own. The store welcomes donations of used books, but Roy said she is “picky” about what she will sell.

“I don’t want it to feel like a thrift store,” Roy said. “I already did all the digging at the thrift store and pulled out all the good stuff for you. So now, you just have to find which good book you want.”

Roy, who grew up in Fairfield and has two children, ages 14 and 11, has worked in libraries since 2015, including stints at Pittsfield schools and Nokomis Regional High School in Newport. 

She completed her master’s in library science through an online program at the University of North Texas this year but said it has been difficult to find a librarian job in the area.

People in the area have been excited to have a bookstore in town, Roy said, since Skowhegan has not had one in many years. Another store selling used books, Bookish, is expected to open this year at 14 Madison Ave.

Among those who have come into the Cat Yard Book Shop so far are several writers who live in the neighborhood, Roy said. She is now selling some of their books.

“I’ve met lots of great people,” Roy said.