No book fair donations after Aug. 15

Written by Jennifer Wastrom, Mark Twain Library
Sunday, 01 August 2010 13:00

Still working on your spring cleaning, even though summer’s hazy days are well upon us? If you’ve yet to tackle your book shelves, here’s a reminder — The Mark Twain Library will only be accepting donations until Sunday, Aug. 15. After that, the volunteers behind the scenes who process the donations 10 months a year will be devoting their energies to the set-up of the 50th Annual Book Fair. Donations will not be accepted after that until Oct. 1, but volunteers certainly will.

The Mark Twain Library Book Fair, its signature fund-raiser, features tens of thousands of books, and requires hundreds of volunteers hours over the course of six days to set up, sell and take down. Ginny Beasley, volunteer coordinator, is currently canvassing helping hands to execute this gargantuan chore.

Volunteer opportunities include cashiers, set-up and take-down before and after the fair, and what the book fair folks call “floaters,” those who tidy the categories after browsers have muddled things up. Students middle school age and up are welcome to volunteer.

Ginny Beasley may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; there are also sign-up sheets at the library, or visit the library’s Web site at www.marktwainlibrary.org and download the volunteer form.

The book fair will be held Labor Day weekend (Sept. 3 through Sept. 6) at the Redding Community Center. With close to 50,000 titles amassed, this year’s fair will continue in its rich tradition as one of the biggest.

The first day, Friday, Sept. 3, there will be an “Early Buying” admission charge of $10 between 9 and 10 a.m. After 10, admission is free, with each individually priced book for sale as marked. On Saturday, Sept. 4, books will be sold as marked; Sunday is half-price day. On Labor Day Monday from 9 to 1, customers can purchase a bag for $5 and fill it with as many books as they’d like.

Parking is free, and refreshments will be available. All proceeds benefit the Mark Twain Library.

The Mark Twain Library Book Fair is one of the largest of its kind in Connecticut. The Mark Twain Library is owned by the Mark Twain Library Association. It was founded in 1908 by Samuel Clemens — Mark Twain himself — one of Redding’s most celebrated residents.