Arts roundup

Maia Nolan photo

Bargain hunters trawl the aisles of the Wilda Marston Theater at the semi-annual Friends of the Library book sale. The next sale starts Saturday, Nov. 7.

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It's hard to explain the scope of the Anchorage Friends of the Library book sale, but let's give it a shot: First, picture the Assembly chambers on the ground floor of the Z.J. Loussac Public Library. Now picture every horizontal surface in the room covered with books. Books cover the Assembly members' desks, spill over the edges of work tables and fill boards laid across the rows of public seats. Books are arranged in boxes in the entry, in the aisleways, on carts wheeled into the space usually occupied by a podium for public testimony.

Now picture the same scene replicated in the Wilda Marston Theater. And the lobby. And the public conference room. And the maze of offices hidden behind the Assembly chambers.

Toni McPherson, Anchorage Public Library's community relations coordinator, has organized the past dozen or so book sales.

"We've had some people that came in and bought for libraries," McPherson said. "I have seen people come in on Saturday and leave with six to eight boxes and then come in the next day and leave with a similar amount. It just blows my mind."

The book lovers' bonanza, which takes place the first weekend of November and May each year, is a major fundraiser for Friends of the Library. In the past couple of years, each sale has brought in between $25,000 and $32,000. It's a big help, McPherson said, particularly in light of recent municipal budget cutbacks.

"Everything that we can bring in for the library helps," McPherson said. "Friends (of the Library) pays for most of the programs at the library ... it can't be overestimated."

The library isn't allowed to charge for its programs, so book sale proceeds are a key component of the budget.

The books for sale next weekend will include library discards as well as donations from individuals and local bookstores. Book sale inventory ranges from bestsellers in bulk to rare vintage finds, plus CDs, DVDs, videos and other media. (Personally, I've made some major scores, including first editions of novels by Alaska author Elsa Pedersen and an LP of the Hebrew cast recording of "Fiddler on the Roof.") Best of all, everything's available at bargain prices -- and on Sunday, it's all marked down 50 percent.

"In nonfiction, to try and buy some of the stuff that we get in discards would just be incredibly expensive," McPherson said. "We have a war section, a history section, and (with) that stuff you just can't put enough out. Alaskana, same thing." Children's books, always a big draw, will be particularly well-stocked this time, and they're priced to sell. On Saturday, children's hardcover books will sell for a dollar and paperbacks will go for 50 cents; on Sunday, as with the rest of the inventory, those prices will be halved.

With the exception of McPherson and a team of cashiers, the book sale is entirely volunteer-driven. Right now, volunteers are holed up downstairs at the Loussac, sorting thousands of books. Next week, students from Alaska Military Youth Academy will move the books into place. Volunteers will keep things organized during the sale, and on Sunday they'll pack up and put away the leftovers. It's not a small operation.

"I have all of these wonderful volunteers that step up time after time," McPherson said -- although, she added, "I can always use more volunteers."

If you're interested in volunteering, you can give McPherson a call at (907) 343-2981, send her an e-mail or just show up Sunday around 4 p.m., when the sale ends and volunteers will be needed to put books away.