Booklovers range freely throughout the Friends of the Library Book Fair (foreground) while the local band, Chief Baker, entertains from the Stage on the Green at the Orcas Island Library Fair last Saturday. (For more pictures, see B4.) - Margie Doyle photo
Margie Doyle photo
Booklovers range freely throughout the Friends of the Library Book Fair (foreground) while the local band, Chief Baker, entertains from the Stage on the Green at the Orcas Island Library Fair last Saturday. (For more pictures, see B4.)

Orcas Library Fair abuzz with books and music


August 13, 2008 · 3:08 PM

  • 0
  • Print Story
  • Letter/Editor

Library Director Phil Heikkinen said of Saturday’s 52nd annual Library Fair, “Overall we were really happy with the results of this year’s fair. The main thing that I rediscovered is how resilient and resistant to rain both islanders and visitors alike are. When it was raining they stood looking at books under the plastic and when it stopped they immediately started buying.”

In intermittent rain and shine, fairgoers flocked to the Eastsound Village Square to purchase books, peruse the booths, meet friends, eat fair food and listen to music at the five hour event.

Heikkinen estimates that they raised about the same amount of money as last year and sold three-fourths of the 16,000 books during the auction. “The only years that exceeded this year and last were the years when we had a car or a boat to raffle off,” he said.

Heikkinen says he is on restriction from book buying but he went home lighter in the pocket from purchases of food at the kid’s booths, a cast iron frying pan, kitchen knives and the five paintings and several silent auction items he and his wife bought.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

blog comments powered by Disqus