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Hello I am sending the replies I received about having book fairs in public libraires. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me. Thanks to all who replied.
Replies from request for Book Fair Information
We are having our very first book fair this summer during the last week of the Summer Reading Program (gives us several weeks to promote it!). We are working with Scholastic, and so far they are really super to deal with. They have sent all of the promotional materials, planning kit, and fliers to send home with the kids. They even had a rep stop by the library and visit with me, and she said she will be here the day the books arrive to help with set-up.
The Friends of the Library sponsored and maintained the event. The book fairs were well attended and we were able to get books donated to us from our "wish list". It is usually conducted in the summer when Scholastic was the least" busy".
For the last three years we have had a Scholastic book fair at the Hoover Library, and they have been successful. Because our staff is so overwhelmed in the summer with extra programs and the summer reading club, I have asked Scholastic to man the book fair for us and they have doe this. They provide the staff and manage all of the money; the library gets a percentage of the profit in books.
We have a Scholastic Book Fair every summer during our Summer Reading Program, usually in July. It runs for a week, and we like to offer a Buy One Get One Free deal. It means less $ or merchandise for us, but the patrons get a good deal. Whatever amount we sell, we then get to pick 10% of that amount in free books at the end of the sale. It is a lot of fun and we usually have a costume character as well--Franklin, Clifford, etc. . .
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We do have a Scholastic book fair usually at the beginning of the Summer Reading Program, on the first day of the big event. That is Lucas Miller this year. The Sale is run by the Friends group. They have a choice of either taking 25% of the proceeds in cash or 60% in books. Naturally we opt for the books.
Before the books get picked up we pick up books of approximately 60% of sales done. If in the end we find we did not pick enough we get a voucher to use at another sale or buy from the catalog. Usually we get about $600-800 worth of books which is a lot of books considering a lot of them are paperback.
The Killeen City Library System has been having an annual book fair with Scholastic for the last 3 – 4 years. We usually have it in December during their half-price sale. Many of our patrons like that benefit for Christmas shopping. I have found that working with Scholastic is extremely easy and they bend over backwards to be helpful.
We had one using Toad Hall, when they were in business.� It was okay.� I think we made about $400.� I’m not sure I would bother with it again.
We have a scholastic book fair every summer.� It's relatively successful �depends on the year.�
Amanda
Amanda Williams, Consultant
Central Texas Library System
P.O. Box 2287
Austin, TX 78768-2287
800-262-4431, ext. 3
512-974-3610, ext. 3
As of 9/13/04
[email protected]
