Some titles, like administrator, are pretty vague.

Others, like Friends of the Bismarck Public Library, need little explanation.

The Friends of the Library are so friendly, in fact, that they also require little introduction. Without fanfare, the organization attracted more than a thousand people to its biannual Used Book Sale. The event - held March 6-8 - raised $12,000 for the building's Children's Library.

"We have a loyal following and a lot of hard-working volunteers," said the group's president, Ann Mayher.

Volunteers donated 1,000 hours of time to help collect, organize and sell some of the 70,000 items that were up for grabs in the library.

Volunteer Darrel Spencer said book prices have never increased since the sale began many years ago.

"That, perhaps, is why we've done so well," he said. "We're an event in itself."

In total, the Friends have donated $22,000 toward renovation of the Children's Library, which has not been significantly updated in 20 years. The library is halfway to its goal of $600,000 for the project, assistant director Mary Jane Schmaltz said.

Incidentally, the books that didn't get sold were donated to Brighten's Thrift Shop.

- Tony Spilde