LSU Campus | Book Bazaar | Friends of the LSU Libraries

Books, Barns, and Bazaars

Location: 3555 River Road
Hours: Mon. & Thurs., 9 a.m.-noon*
Wed. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

*Before visiting, call 578-5925 to
make sure a Friend
is there to help you.

Tucked away in an inconspicuous warehouse on River Road, a small army of volunteers busies itself by sorting, cataloging, and pricing an ocean of books. The collective goal of these volunteers is to raise money for the LSU Libraries. The off-shoot of their work benefits the local community by making available thousands of bargain-priced books to readers of all ages and with a wide range of interests.

Recently, the Friends of the LSU Libraries marked their 41st anniversary. Over the years, the member-volunteers have donated countless hours to various projects, from sponsoring the Louisiana Heritage Lecture Series and workshops on collecting and preserving books and artworks, to, most notably, the annual autumn Book Bazaar.

"No one could begin to pay our volunteers – especially the Book Barn workers – for the work we do. In the end, it all adds up to FUN."
—Marion Spann, Book Bazaar, Co-Chair
Photo courtesy Lela Weber, Friends of the LSU Libraries

The Book Bazaar is a wonderful book recycling event. Each year an average of 75,000 used books are made available to the public in a three-day event. More impressive is the fact that this annual event is organized and carried out through a massive volunteer effort. The 2004 Book Bazaar will be held October 7-9 in the 4-H Mini-Farm Building next to the Parker Coliseum on the LSU AgCenter campus. Books ranging from Regency romances to signed first editions, at prices from 10 cents to somewhat more will be on sale at the Bazaar.

In addition to the annual Book Bazaar, the Friends make noncurrent texts in dozens of categories available year-round in the Text Book Room.

Over the years, the Friends have raised over $1 million for the LSU Libraries and more than $1 million for an endowment fund. These funds have been used to purchase major collections and help to secure donations for other collections, including the T. Harry Williams Library and E. A. McIlhenny Natural History Collection.

The LSU Libraries hold 3,175,014 books, 5,375,405 microfilms, and 299,443 maps.

LSU Libraries are ranked among the top 113 academic research libraries by the Association of Research Libraries.

The funds have also been used to frame and conserve plates from John James Audubon’s Elephant Folio and to endow the Goodrich-Taylor Graduate Assistantship for Special Collections.

The efforts of the Friends of the LSU Libraries have not gone unrecognized. The Friends have received honors from the LSU Foundation for their endowment accomplishments. In addition, the Friends have been honored three times by the American Library Association. In 1987, 1993 and 2000 the group received the Friends of the Library USA Award (FOLUSA Award) for Outstanding Academic Friends.

Members of the community who have books they would like to donate to the Friends may leave them at any Keans the Cleaners location in the greater Baton Rouge area in special book bins available from late winter until September 6. Gifts to endowment funds for the LSU Libraries can be made by contacting LSU Libraries at 225/278- 1282. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer for the Friends should contact the Friends of the LSU Libraries at 225/578-5925 (M-Th) or bbfriends@lsu.edu Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Friends should call 225/578-1282.

A Bazaar Barn


Photos courtesy Lela Weber, Friends of the LSU Libraries

Written by Mary Beth Blackmon | Friends of the LSU Libraries
Photos by Lela Weber | Friends of the Library and Jim Zietz | University Relations
August 2003