The 62nd annual Mark Twain Library Book Fair takes place on Labor Day weekend, featuring bargain priced books and other gently used items for sale.

Organizers at the Twain say this year’s fair offers more than 65,000 children’s books, music and performing arts selections, foreign language choices, and a variety of books on transportation, knitting, Native Americans, spycraft, and intelligence operations.

It all happens at the Redding Community Center, 37 Lonetown Road in Redding.

Entry is free, except for the first hour on Friday morning, when early birds can get first dibs for $20.

Co-chair Midge Loery recommends that shoppers come to the fair on the first day or two, as many popular categories tend to sell out quickly.

At the same time, deals get better as the fair goes on.

The schedule:

• Friday, September 1: 9:00 – 6:00. The $20 early admission (9:00 – 10:00) tickets are sold on site starting at 8:00 am.
• Saturday, September 2: 10:00 – 4:00.
• Sunday, September 3: 10:00 – 4:00. On Sunday, books are sold at half price.
• Monday, September 4: 9:00 – 4:00. On Monday, shoppers can fill an entire box for just $10. A box is provided.

Everything — books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl albums, sheet music, games, puzzles, the works — are sorted into categories to make shopping convenient. A special Collector’s Corner offers rare books.

Food is sold, parking is free, and credit cards are accepted.

The Book Fair is an important event for the Mark Twain Library, which apparently got started when Mark Twain himself was moving into a new home and needed to downsize his book collection. Proceeds go to the library’s operating budget.