‘Friends’ annual book sale supports Wasilla library

WASILLA — A used book from a Friend seems to be worth its weight in cash for the Wasilla Public Library.

For close to 20 years, the Friends of Wasilla Public Library has hosted an annual used book sale, turning private donations and library leftovers for a profit to support the library.

Organization president Jeanne Troshynski said the Friends typically start the six-day sale with 700 to 900 books, and have just a few boxes full left at the end of the week. In the 15 years Troshynski has been president, the sale has raised $4,000 to $5,000 a year, she said, most recently at 50 cents per paperback and $1 per hardback book.

“People just love a great deal on books,” she said.

Wasilla resident Lori Flannery could attest to that.

“I love the book sale,” she said, as her husband packed up their finds at the American Legion in Wasilla on Friday. “Ever since we found out about it, we haunt this like crazy.”

Flannery said she and her husband have amassed 3,000 or 4,000 books for their personal library from the book sale alone, and guessed they weren’t alone.

“This is probably the most well-read community there is, I’d say,” she said.

Whether that’s true or not, it’s clear patrons of the Wasilla library care about access to reading material, and a quality facility to house that material. Between the book sale and other fundraisers, along with individual donations, Troshynski said the Friends have been able to help the library raise $225,000 for its new building, set to open this coming Thursday, Sept. 22, at 2:30 p.m. If that figure reaches $250,000 or more, the Rasmuson Foundation will match it, as part of a Tier 2 grant previously awarded to the City of Wasilla.

The $15 million building was also paid for by the 1 percent sales tax increase Wasilla residents voted to pay in 2013.

Even during times when the library hasn’t been actively seeking a new building, Troshynski said, the Friends are always trying to raise money -- if not for the ever-present building fund, then for hosting authors, activities, programs and events for the community.

“Really the Friends’ job is to advocate for the library in any activities they might want to do,” she said.

The new library

With the new, bigger building, Troshynski said, the Friends will be able to do more in general. The library will be able to host more people at one time, first of all, with an increase in parking from 14 to 93 spots. Secondly, patrons will have at their disposal multiple indoor conference rooms for informal get-togethers as well as corporate meetings. The new library will also have 43 public computers, compared with the seven at the old library.

In addition, the library will be able to schedule entertainers and speakers during the summer for performances and talks in an outdoor amphitheater across from the main entrance to the library. When nothing’s scheduled, patrons can use that space and the library courtyard simply for outdoor reading, Troshynski said.

“We’re so excited about that,” she said.

Troshynski said she’s particularly looking forward to seeing the new facility appreciated by Wasilla Middle School students, who walk safely to the library after school on a path between the two buildings. The teen section of the library will also be decorated with an art piece created by Wasilla Middle School students and a local professional artist.

“We wanna help to make the library feel like it’s there for them, too,” Troshynski said.

The Friends also added a little something special for fans of C.S. Lewis’s “Chronicles of Narnia” series, who may recognize a certain lamppost placed outside the library.

“That’s something I’m really proud of, and it’s something the whole community worked on,” she said.

To recognize everyone that contributed $100 or more, by July 1, to the new facility, a “donor wall” has been installed inside the library.

The future of Friends

The Friends of Wasilla Public Library will hold its annual meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26 at the new library. At the meeting, Troshynski, treasurer Pam Lorenz, and board members Marci Hawkins and Colleen Scott will be up for re-election. The board will also recognize a youth and an adult volunteer for their contributions to the group and the library over the last year, discuss the year’s accomplishments and set goals for the next year.

One thing Troshynski would like to do, she said, is convince the City of Wasilla to extend the library’s hours.

“I personally hope that that’s a demand that the public makes, but it’s a funding question,” she said. “The library is a great facility and I think sometimes politicians don’t understand how much it’s valued.”

“It’s hard to see something as valued when it doesn’t bring in money,” she added.

The Friends’ book sale, at least, will keep the cash flowing a bit this weekend.

The sale continues today, Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, Sept. 20, at the American Legion. Shoppers can fill a bag for $5 during Monday’s and Tuesday’s sales, which will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., also at the American Legion.

For more information about the Friends of Wasilla Public Library, visit www.wasillafriends.org, or find them on Facebook. The Friends can also be contacted at 352-3763.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.