Paperbacks are still 50 cents. Magazines are still a dime. At the top of the magical carpeted staircase, children's books are 50 cents.

The prices are the same -- or lower -- but the atmosphere has changed dramatically for the books, puzzles, CD's, books on tape (and CD) and sheet music waiting to be purchased at this year's Fall Book Sale in the lower level of the Natrona County Public Library.

"We used to haul 2,000 boxes out for the spring sale, and then haul it all back," said sale co-chairman Donna Mullen. "That's not easy for any of us, no matter how old we are."

So the Friends of the Library spent six weeks scrubbing the floor with a razor blade, tearing down World War II-era, claustrophobia-inducing metal shelves, painting everything in calming shades of blue and moving existing shelving into more workable traffic patterns.

Now, the entire book sale inventory is housed in one, large room, and everything the Friends have been given is out at one time for sale.

In past years, daring volunteers had to dive under banquet-sized tables to retrieve cardboard boxes to replenish supply while frenzied shoppers pored through the books on the tables.

"We used to spend 16 long days setting up the spring sale, and now it's all here ready to go," Mullen said. "It's so much neater and better organized."

She and children's specialist Joy Mascarenas recarpeted a short stairway and made a 50-cent children's area at the top of the tiny stairway.

Movie videotapes are $1 to $3, with classic Disney titles garnering the higher price. Movies on DVD are $3 to $5.

There are vinyl record albums and music on CD. There are art prints and stacks of sheet music (yes, even Irving Berlin), the covers of some beautiful enough to frame.

Mullen is amazed at the generosity of the people of Casper.

"There's not a day you don't go upstairs and there's not a bag of stuff there for us," Mullen said of the drop-off box on the main floor. "Somebody's always thinking of us."

Just Tuesday, Mullen priced brand-new fiction published this year that someone enjoyed and then donated.

Mullen continues to co-chair the sale with Betty Ouderkirk, who on Tuesday celebrated her 82nd birthday with family in Denver.

"She's here as much or more than the rest of us are," Mullen said.

Although the spring sale runs a full eight days, Mullen and Mascarenas said the numbers of shoppers this weekend at the two-day fall sale should rival the first weekend spring numbers.

"This is a more local crowd," Mullen said, "but the numbers will be about exactly the same."

Even though Beech Street is still closed for construction, Mullen suggests there is plenty of parking downtown and in the parking structure just a couple of blocks away.

"This truly will be our biggest fall sale ever," she said.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m., on Sunday.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520 or sallyann.shurmur@trib.com. Read Sal's blog at tribtown.trib.com/Sal/blog and follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WYOSAS