NATCHEZ &8212; Call it a book bash or simply a big give-away. However you look at it, Saturday will be a day for book lovers who like bargains.

&8220;Instead of the usual one dollar, fifty cents or 25 cents per book, we&8217;re going to let people fill a grocery bag with books for five dollars,&8221; said Nancy Williams of Friends of the Library board of directors.

Book sales usually are held the first Tuesday and third Saturday of every month at Armstrong Library, 220 S. Commerce St. The special Saturday sale, from 9 a.m. to noon, will allow the Friends and librarians to clear out some books to make way for others.

Linda Ogden, vice president of Friends of the Library, said the selection for Saturday&8217;s sale is excellent, including cookbooks and crafts books.

&8220;We have a lot of books right now, and we want to move lots of books,&8221; she said.

In recent months, the Friends group provided books to people at Red Cross shelters after Hurricane Katrina and to individual evacuees who came to Natchez for refuge after the Aug. 29 storm, Ogden said

The book sale also helps to raise awareness in the community about the work of the Friends and to remind people to bring books they want to donate to the sales. &8220;We&8217;re always looking for new books to sell. We just require that the books be in good shape when they&8217;re brought to us,&8221; Ogden said.

The Friends of the Library is an active group.

Funds raised by Friends went toward fixing broken shutters on the building, buying new curtains for the library and buying reference books. Friends also purchased a year&8217;s subscription to Ancestry.com, a popular addition to the genealogy collection.

Other purchases included T-shirts for the staff to wear during the Summer Library Program. The group also during the past year:

4Was instrumental in having the William Johnson House designated as a National Literary Landmark.

4Provided refreshments at the reception for that designation and purchased a plaque for the library.

4Sponsored the annual poetry contest for second- and third-graders.

4Sponsored the puppet show at the Natchez Convention Center that kicked off the 2005 Summer Library Program and attracted more than 600 attendees.

4Held another successful Christmas Tour of Homes.

Friends memberships are $10 for individuals; $15 for family; $25 for organization; and any amount more than $25 for contributor membership. Memberships may be sent to Friends of the Library, 220 S. Commerce St., Natchez, MS 39120.