Baked goods, books and art will all be on offer this Saturday at the Soldotna Public Library during the Friends of the Library Bake, Book, and Art Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The annual event will feature “fabulous homemade baked goods,” “books for all ages,” original and print art, as well as live music from local musicians, according to a release from the library.
Soldotna Library Friends President Joan Merrick said the sale is intended to draw attention and excitement to the library, and to provide another reason to get out around the holidays.
Local artists the Tuesday Trio, Sue Bliss, Jack Wall, the Petersons and the Pates will play music to entertain shoppers, Michelle Blackwell, Library Friends board member, said.
The books, art and baked goods are all donated, with proceeds going to support library programming, Merrick said.
Book sales are regularly held by the Library Friends to raise money for library programs, but Merrick said this annual holiday sale is a much larger production.
“Maybe we were overzealous,” she said, of this sale’s three-pronged approach. They had great books and art on hand, as well as community support for sourcing baked goods. “We just ended up having some really nice things that we thought we would share. The holidays seemed like a good time to do that.”
To Merrick, the opportunity to support the local public library is the biggest draw of the event.
“The library has all these programs that are really great for the community. Lots of programs for children and also more adult programs,” she said. These include traditional story times, but also crafting projects, seasonal events, varied teen programming, book clubs and more.
A major focus of fundraising this year, emphasized both by Merrick and by Blackwell, is purchasing sewing machines for a sewing program at the library. These would allow adults and children to learn how to perform simple sewing techniques like mending their own clothing.
“There’s lots of kinds of programs that you wouldn’t necessarily think were library programs, but it’s all education.” Merrick said.
More information about the Soldotna Public Library and the Soldotna Library Friends can be found on their Facebook pages.
Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.
