Book Bazaar Benefits Leland Speed Library at Mississippi College

Items stack up at the Leland Speed Library as the Oct. 9-11 Book Bazaar nears on the Clinton campus. The location for the event will be Alumni Gym.

Autographed books by former President Jimmy Carter and award-winning Mississippi artist Wyatt Waters of Clinton are among thousands of literary gems up for grabs.

“Southern Living” cookbooks are available, too, at the seventh annual book bazaar to benefit the Leland Speed Library at Mississippi College.

The event runs from October 9-11 at MC’s Alumni Gym and is open to the public.

Book bazaar patrons shouldn’t miss this popular event on the Clinton campus, says library director Kathleen Hutchison.

“The collection is the best yet including over 15 categories of books – some are like new and others are from the 1800s,” Hutchison says.

In essence, there’s something for everybody – from children’s stories to nifty coffee table books to comic books. Added to the mix is the Time-Life “Legendary Singers” vinyl record set.

This fall’s collection is the biggest ever, with over 18,000 books, DVDs, CDs, and vinyl records selling at rock bottom prices, she said. Most of the items are in the range of 50 cents to $2.

There will be items marked at special prices as well as the return of the fabulous silent auction. This year’s silent auction includes autographed books by former Gov. William Winter, author Greg Isles, and food diva Paula Deen, among others. A Civil War medical book penned in 1858 would be of interest to history buffs.

The book fair raised as much as $12,000 to benefit the Leland Speed Library a couple of years ago. Mathematics Department Chairman John Travis bought some of Tom Clancy’s spy novels. MC math professor Melinda Gann purchased terrific cookbooks to add to her kitchen shelf.

Hutchison is encouraging people to donate books and other items as late September turns to early October.

Hours of the book bazaar are from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Thursday October 9 through Saturday October 11.

With the MC Choctaws playing a home football game on October 11 with the University of the Faith (kickoff is 2 p.m.), lots of people should be on campus. They should boost the crowd of book lovers at Alumni Gym. Every year, the book sale draws a terrific turnout of faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of Mississippi College.

Over the years, book bazaar funds have helped purchase computers, pay for faculty and staff chairs and other needs for the library along College Street.

For more information, contact the Leland Speed Library at 601-925-3908 or email Wanda Mosley at mosley@mc.edu.