Palmer is a Booktown

The Remarkable Bright Light Book Project—Some big book-hearted folks have been diligent in creating some Palmer town little libraries. Alys Culhane and Bill Schmldtkunz have built this project from the very first page. The Valley Recycling Center had many, many donated books. The books needed homes. No one wants to see books shredded, destroyed or tossed. Through ingenuity and talent, Alys and Bill began to organize and distribute the abundance of books. Bill built shelves and Alys organized everything. Other volunteers jumped into the game. The Meeting House, in Palmer, stepped up to help with the cleaning of the books for distribution. Now books are taken to many needful locations in Palmer and beyond! You can see some of these Bright Light Bookshelves in the hallway beside Vagabond Blues, at the Valley Hotel and soon at Turkey Red.

Little Free Libraries—“Take a book; Share a book.” There are little libraries all around the Palmer area. You will see them at the Bugge Park playground, Hearthstone Drive in the Butte, Sky Ranch, and on Clark and N.Vista Circle up on Lazy Mountain. There is one outside the Harley shop; another on W. Caribou Ave.; Cottonwood Loop and Pine; Birch Drive near Blueberry; Tina Lane; and Wolf Creek Road. Other sites may have popped up but you can check their updated list. Plus you can always start your own little free library by joining the movement at littlefreelibrary.org.

Public Library —The Palmer public library is conveniently smack dab in the middle of town. It’s no accident that it is centrally located. Libraries are the heart and soul of villages and cities alike; the metaphor of a public epicenter is easy to understand. The Palmer Library is a gentle and welcoming space. It is open Tuesday-Saturday. It recently opened again to public entry (during pandemic) from 10-12. Curbside services are available from 12-4. The library does a good job of cleaning and sanitizing and takes care of the public safety. It is a jewel in Palmer. And Sutton’s Public Library is a beautiful place as well.

Fireside Book Store—This is the Palmer place, if you love books. Covid had it partially shut down for awhile, although curbside has always been an option. Now they are open with good safety precautions. Oh, and we are glad they are open. (When I walked in there, after six months of closure, I nearly cried and I didn’t ever, ever want to leave.) There is something delicious about our Palmer bookstore. The floor creaks; the books—all lined up—collectively invite and seduce you to linger; the soft background discussion is soothing. The book sellers are smart and kind. It is nearly impossible to leave the Fireside bookstore without buying a book.

Palmer “NeighBeerhood”—Have a beer and read a book. At the Bleeding Heart Brewery, books are a part of the landscape. It’s such a great thing to pair up a refreshing pilsner with a copy of Moby Dick. The Palmer brewery, which now shares a space with the Alaska Picker, is even better than ever. Plus, if you like wandering around and looking at really old and authentic books, then take your beer for a walk around the adjoining Alaska Picker’s warehouse of rare and interesting objects, antiques, junk and necessities. The music is good. And, now, you can also partake of the neighBEERhood Matanuska Brewery and Tap Room, also under the Palmer Water Tower.

More Books In Palmer—You will find wonderful used books for sale at Bishop’s Attic, and Treasures of the Attic. The Palmer Museum has a small selection of new books and the Colony House has some historic copies of a few seminal Palmer books.

Bookclubs—There are quite a few bookclubs in Palmer and several are associated with either the bookstore or the public library. Some churches and groups have their own bookclubs. The Palmer area is definitely a book town.

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group.. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222