3:47 p.m. - The Bismarck Public Library is probably the last place you'd go to find a Pearl Jam CD, but that's exactly where six Pearl Jam CDs are waiting for someone to take them home.

As well as three CDs of Beethoven's piano concertos, four copies of Lenny Kravitz's "Mama Said" album, five copies of Whitney Houston's 1991 rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner," three copies of Barry White's "Staying Power" and seven copies of Michael Bolton's "Timeless: The Classics" (volume two -- who knew he had enough classics to merit a second volume?).

The library received 200 CDs as part of the settlement of a 2002 price-fixing lawsuit against eight major CD manufacturers and retailers.

The settlement required the music companies to distribute $76 million worth of CDs to libraries, colleges and schools nationwide -- including more than 12,500 CDs in North Dakota. The companies also reimbursed consumers $67 million, by sending out $13.86 checks to people who said they bought CDs between January 1995 and December 2000. About 13,000 North Dakotans received the checks several months ago.

But some librarians across the nation have not been impressed with the CDs they've received, because they include some obscure selections, such as CDs of chanting Spanish monks. The Bismarck library received everything from Mozart, the three tenors and John Coltrane to cinematic theme songs, the Indigo Girls and John Mellencamp.

"There's a lot of esoteric things that we'd never purchase," said Mary Jane Schmaltz, assistant director of the Bismarck library. "I think most librarians are perplexed."

The problem is, many of the CDs are duplicates, and the library only wants one or two copies. The Bismarck library will probably keep about half the CDs, and in a month or two, they'll sell the rest for a nominal fee.

"I think they were just getting rid of the junk on the shelves," Schmaltz said of the music companies, but added politely, "You don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

The Fargo Public Library received nearly 300 CDs, including many of the same titles as Bismarck and many duplicates.

"We can't really add like six Michael Bolton albums," said Lori West, circulation supervisor for the Fargo library. "There were some kind of oddball (selections). But I suppose what's oddball to some is a treasure to others."

While attorneys general in some other states withheld some of the CDs with questionable lyrics, North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem just sent schools and libraries a letter asking them to review the CDs and determine if it's appropriate.

Stenehjem said he hasn't gotten any complaints about the CDs, and has even received some letters of thanks. He said he looked through the list of CDs and was "pretty satisfied" that it wasn't just "bargain bin stuff." Among the selections: 98 Degrees, Aerosmith, Christina Aguilera's Christmas album (yes, she made one), Babyface, Blondie, Devo, Kenny G and George Clinton (yes, he made one).

"Many of these titles I have in my own collection," Stenehjem said. "I don't have the Rocky Horror picture show, I know that." (He did confess to having a Michael Bolton CD, but claimed it was his wife's.)

He said if the recipients don't like the CDs, they're free to sell them or exchange them with other libraries or schools. He said some of the earlier shipments to other states included some of the more obscure selections, such as Gregorian chants.

"Those were big for awhile," Stenehjem said. "I withstood the temptation to buy one and I'm glad I did."

(Reach Deena Winter at 250-8251 or deena.winter@bismarcktribune.com.)