The Friends of the Albert Lea Public Library organization and the Fountain Lake Bookstore will be combining services just in time for the Friends’ spring book sale.

Cindy Fjermestad, president of the Friends, said the Fountain Lake Bookstore was originally started by Karol Held, Grace Haukoos and Jane Hofkamp, and they have found it doesn’t need much of their time now that it’s completely set up.

“We felt we could blend well together,” Fjermestad said.

Because the book store won’t need much managing other than scheduling volunteers, the Friends have taken that task, which coincides well with their mission to assist the library with programs.

“Since it was already established we just did basic training on sorting books,” Fjermestad said.

Fjermestad said the members of Friends are excited about managing the bookstore and hope to get the word out about what it offers. She said many people in the community don’t know that there’s a snack bar with low-priced snacks and a coffee bar that offers free refills after the coffee purchase.

“We’re looking at becoming more visible,” Fjermestad said.

She hopes to make more people in the community aware of the bookstore, which has low-priced books that are donated. Proceeds from the bookstore fund library programs.

“We want more people to use the service,” Fjermestad said.

Even if no one is staffing the bookstore, people can shop and pay for books using the honor system. There’s also seating areas near the bookstore, which is on the lowest level of City Hall.

Fjermestad said she hopes people who walk, run or bike the lake know they can stop in to use the public restrooms, buy a bottle of water from the snack bar or just to take a break and browse through some books.

“We have a very nice facility donated by the city,” Fjermestad said.

Books are sorted by categories, and are dated when they are added to the collection. Fjermestad said that way staff know when a book has been on the shelf for a while, then they add it to the books the Friends sell in their twice-yearly book sales.

“Our goal is just to get books in the hands of people in Albert Lea,” Fjermestad said.

Today is the opening day of the spring book sale. The sale goes from 4 to 7 p.m. for members of the Friends of the Albert Lea Public Library only. Memberships can be purchased at the sale for $5.

Friday’s book sale hours are from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday’s hours are from 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday also features the bag sale where for $1 people can fill a bag with children’s books or for $3 adults can fill a bag with books.

“It’s a real deal,” Fjermestad said of the bag sale.

The book sale is immediately west of the lower level of the library in the City Center Garage off Fountain Street.

This table was set up with romance novels in preparation for today’s book sale. The sale also runs Friday and Saturday. -- Kelli Lageson/Albert Lea Tribune

Summer events at the library:
June 6 – July 23: Storytime on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 6 p.m.
June 6 – July 23: Game Time at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays
June 6 – July 23: Art Zones Studio at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays
June 6 – July 23: Book Pals for third through fifth-graders at 2 p.m. on Wednesdays.
June 9: Magician Jim Jayes will perform at 2 and 3 p.m.
June 16: R.A.D. Zoo will perform at 2 and 3 p.m.
June 23: There will be a Hans Mayer Music Program at 2 and 3 p.m.
June 30: Schifelly Puppets will be featured at 2 and 3 p.m.
July 7: There will be crafts and games at 2 p.m.
July 14: There will be bingo at 2 p.m.
July 21: Zoo-Man will be featured at 2 and 3 p.m.
— These events are funded by the Friends of the Albert Lea Public Library