News from MIAC/Lab

The Laboratory of Anthropology Library holds its always anticipated 21st Book Sale

OCTOBER 14, 2014

SATURDAY and SUNDAY, November 15 and 16, 2014

"Books to the ceiling, books to the sky, my pile of books is a mile high. How I love them! How I need them! I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them." -- Arnold Lobel

(Santa Fe, October 14, 2014)—The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture’s Laboratory of Anthropology (LOA) Library will hold its 21st book sale on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15 and 16. Book sale times and admission fees are:



  • Saturday, Nov. 15, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., $10; and 1 – 4 p.m., $1

  • Sunday, Nov. 16, Noon – 4 p.m., Free

There are many books worthy of gracing any library, supplementing a collection or expanding one, such as the scarce, rare and first edition, finely printed and small literary press books on topics as diverse as the 1960s Beat Generation and Counter Culture movements, the Federal Writers’ Project/Works Progress Administration, Goreyana (Edward Gorey), as well as on New Mexico, Mexico, Spanish Colonial history and art, and on Central America.

Also featured are works from Samuel Larcombe’s estate (1941 – 2010), a longtime Santa Fe resident, scholar, and collector. From Richard Spivey, author of The Legacy of Maria Poveka Martinez, considered the definitive study on famed potter Maria Martinez (San Ildefonso Pueblo), are books on Southwest Native arts and culture; from Rosemarie and F. Denis Lessard are an excellent selection of Native American material culture; the selection from Stewart Peckham, the Laboratory of Anthropology’s former director will please enthusiasts of New Mexico and Southwest history and archaeology; and, books from the collection of Peter T. Furst and Patrick Culbert will appeal to connoisseurs of Mesoamerican/Mexican arts, history, and culture.

In addition to the above named collections many, many other generous people from the greater Santa Fe community have donated to the MIAC-LOA Library Book Sale.

Librarian Allison Colborne notes, "... there are books for every reading taste and interest and at every price point. I’ve priced the books to sell, every book is priced well below market."

Other major topic categories are:



  • American History

  • Anthropology and Archaeology

  • Architecture, Design

  • Fine Arts

  • Folk Art (Pennsylvania Dutch, Amish, Shaker)

  • Literature/Poetry (1940s-1990s books, chapbooks, ephemera)

  • Mexican Art and Material Culture

  • Native American Art and Material Culture

  • New Mexico (Art, History, Photography)

  • Spanish Colonial Art (Santos)

  • US - Mexico Border Culture

Thanks to the generous support of Santa Feans of the previous sale, proceeds helped the LOA Library implement the "Koha web accessible system" – making the technological leap into the 21st century possible.  Proceeds from the 2014 sale will underwrite the ongoing technical support of this new integrated library system, as well as the operations, programs, and collections acquisitions of this renowned library (established 1932).

For more information on the Laboratory of Anthropology Library book sale media and the public may call the librarian, Allison Colborne, at 505-476-1264 or visit indianartsandculture.org/booksale

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