McKinley High School's annual weeklong book sale may not always yield treasure, such as a series of fish prints bought last year for $20 that later were appraised at $500 on the PBS program "Antiques Road Show." But you can always hope.

"As careful as we are, we know that books are slipping through our fingers that are just not recognized as being valuable," said Byrde Cestare, executive director of Friends of the Library of Hawai'i, which organizes the event.

"But they're here and we hope that somebody finds them and gets a real treasure."

This year's sale, kicking off today with a special preview for members of the Friends, marks the 60th anniversary of the immensely successful book sale. Volunteers hope to raise $180,000, with all proceeds going to the 58 statewide public libraries.

"Every person benefits from this sale," said Rosemary Chong, co-chair of the book sale. "People think that books are dying because of computers, but more and more people come to our sale every year."

More than 200 volunteers began setting up the sale on Monday after receiving 3,000 boxes of donated books stored at Kaimuki Public Library. The boxes, containing more than 200,000 titles, were then placed in three storage rooms behind the school's auditorium, where volunteers categorized them and began hauling them to the cafeteria.

A year-round staff of 63 volunteers price and categorize all the incoming books for the sale.

"We now have so many books and so many titles that everyday probably until (next) Tuesday we'll be opening new boxes in almost every (category)," said Chong, who added that they continually restock the various categories, with the exception of the Hawaiiana section, which sells out the first day.

For the first time, Chong said the administration at McKinley approved the use of the lanai outside the cafeteria, adding 20,000 extra square feet to set out books and DVDs for the opening weekend.

She added that the romance section, which receives the most donated books, will be both inside and outside.

Another first for the book sale is the donation of vinyl records, all originals, ranging from Cheech and Chong to Elvis and even a collector's edition of an older Beatles album.

Although sold at discount prices, the book sale accumulates a variety of rare and interesting books and valuables.

"With a number of these books, this is the first and only chance to see them because they have been in someone's family for years and they move or someone dies and then they donate it to us," said Nancy Nott, head organizer of the popular Hawaiiana and Pacific section.

After the book sale's final day, all remaining books will be shipped to Tonga as organizers try to help out other libraries.