Wasilla Library's Annual Used Book Sale: A treasure trove for book lovers

Public libraries are an essential resource for communities. They provide access to knowledge, information, educational programs, and community events open to anyone in the area.

For these programs to take place, funding is needed. That’s where the Friends of the Wasilla Public Library comes in.

The Friends of the Wasilla Public Library supports the library by carrying out fundraising, advocacy, and other activities that support the mission of the Wasilla Public Library. The programs the Friends have helped support include author visits, book clubs, workshops, and other events that bring together community members.

Upcoming events funded by the Friends include a Firelight Book Club on Oct. 7, a Tea and Author visit with Tricia Brown, an author from Fairbanks, on Oct. 8, and several summer reading events.

Book sales take place to fund these events.

There are monthly book sales on the second Saturday of every month, except July and December, but the upcoming annual book sale event is much bigger. Jeanne Troshynski, the President of the Friends of Wasilla Public Library, said they prepare for this sale all year long.

“We really prepare for this one all year long because as soon as this sale is done, we start collecting books that we will keep for next year's big sale,” Troshynski said. “So we're always sorting these books to prepare for the super sale, the ongoing sale, and then our monthly sale, which we do the second Saturday of every month. But it takes a long time to get ready for it. So it's a lot of work.”

The books being sorted are either donated for these book sales or are older books that the library needs to get rid of to make more space for newer books.

The main section of the book sale will be $5 a bag. There will be a special section called ‘Treasures’, and those books will be $5 each.

“They're books that are first editions of books or coffee table books,” Troshynski added.

Cash and checks will be accepted at the book sale. Credit cards will not be accepted.

The sale will occur inside the Library's multi-purpose room and outside in the Library's amphitheater. There will be over 200 boxes of books available for sale. Troshynski says they usually make over $10,000 during this annual book sale. She says she doesn’t know how many people to expect, but she usually sees hundreds of bags of books gone by the end of the sale.

Members get early entrance to the book sale and first notice for any upcoming events.

People can become members by going to https://www.wasillafriends.org/membership and filling out a form. Annual Memberships are $25 yearly, while a Lifetime Membership is $150.

Members of Friends of the Wasilla Public Library will have access to the book sale on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 5 p.m. to76 p.m. The book sale will be open to the public from Friday, Sept. 13 to Monday, Sept. 16. The sale will be closed on Sunday.

The sale on Friday is 10:30 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., Saturday’s hours are 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., and Monday’s hours are 2 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

The sale will occur at the Wasilla Public Library at 500 North Crusey Street.

For any questions, visit cumberlandcountylibraryfriends.com or call 910-483-7727, extension 1304.