Capacity local crowd to check out 'America's Librarian'

It’s billed as “a novel affair,” yet just as easily could be promoted as a three-hour Pearl jam.

Not an alternative rock concert, mind you, but a major fundraiser in June supporting the local drive to build a new library for the greater La Conner community.

It’s the much anticipated appearance here of Nancy Pearl, the revered yet unassuming “America’s Librarian,” long a fixture on the Seattle scene and now embraced among avid readers as a national icon.

Pearl, a popular radio and TV personality as well as an acclaimed author in her own right, will headline A Novel Affair, the already sold-out June 23 La Conner Regional Library benefit luncheon, set between 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Maple Hall.

A Novel Affair also features silent and live auctions loaded with A-list items, such as a Caribbean cruise, with most sporting literary themes.

“The participation,” says La Conner Regional Library Foundation Director Susan Macek, “has been great. It’s been a collaborative effort on the part of merchants, book clubs and volunteers in La Conner.”

All proceeds, including those from various levels of event sponsorship – two of which offer at least one autographed copy Pearl’s best-selling novel George and Lizzie – go to the library campaign.

The La Conner Regional Library has been located since 1993 in the former Hallmark store on Morris Street, serving a library district of nearly 5,000 residents.

Prior to that, a volunteer local library system serviced La Conner for over six decades.

Demand for library services has grown along with the La Conner area’s population.

Supporters of a new library hope to see construction of a larger building that enhances existing services and provides new ones, such as a community meeting room and enlarged children’s, computing and study areas while meeting disability access, energy efficiency and flood plain code requirements.

The project has already secured a $500,000 state grant, which is in effect through June 2019. It must be more than matched to assure completion.

The current fundraising goal, of which A Novel Affair plays a key role, is $1.7 million, which includes property purchase, design work, and permit fees.

A Novel Affair was truly inspired in novel fashion.

Many who champion development of a new, expanded local library are La Conner Soroptimists. Aware that the nearby Burlington club raises money annually with a successful purse auction, it seemed a natural to them that a similar book-themed event could generate funds for the La Conner library.

They also knew lining up a big-name keynoter, someone passionate about literacy, would help spur ticket sales and auction donations.

Nancy Pearl, who regularly meets and greets the public in her Seattle neighborhood, was the ideal candidate.

She accepted the offer to appear in La Conner, part of a lifetime devotion to the support of public libraries.

“That’s how it came about,” says La Conner Soroptimist Frances Simmons. “This all happened last fall, and it became an amazing opportunity to invite other local people to get involved.”

Pearl, who grew up in Detroit, often notes she spent much of a difficult childhood at the public library near her home. Public libraries and reading literally saved her life, Pearl often confirms.

After her career brought her to Seattle, Pearl became well known throughout the Pacific Northwest for her prolific reading and knowledge of books. Her rise as an author along with acclaimed commentary on public radio and selection as 2011 Librarian of the Year garnered Pearl widespread attention.

Now, with her commitment to A Novel Affair, Pearl promises to be the center of attention in La Conner as well.