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Book Bazaar Highlights 2012 MC Homecoming Weekend


Mississippi College’s fifth annual Book Bazaar makes its debut at Homecoming weekend, with all proceeds to benefit the Leland Speed Library.

With more than 15,000 books and other items on sale, the event at Alumni Gym is open to the public October 26-27. Doors will be open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday.

At last year’s fair, mathematics professor Melinda Gann purchased a crime drama audio book for her husband, Don, plus a wonderful cookbook for her kitchen shelf. She also invested in some vinyl albums for her son and best friend, both college students with phonographs.

The audio book for her husband was worth every penny. “It was very inexpensive – he loved it,” Gann said. Her stop at the book fair led Don Gann to start hunting for additional audio books at Cracker Barrel restaurants to make his long road trips a little more enjoyable.

With scores of math books on her shelves, the Mississippi College graduate will be searching for other bargains when she returns to Alumni Gym in late October.

Just about everybody visiting the book fair discovers terrific sales as they browse the tables. The event also will include a silent auction.

Doors will be open to MC faculty and staff for a sneak preview from 2-5 p.m. on Thursday October 25 before the public gets their turn.

Last year’s event during Family Weekend raised $11,000. Funds collected have been used to purchase computers, pay for faculty and staff chairs and other needs at the library on the Clinton campus.

The MC book fair two years ago, attracted at least 800 people. The move to Homecoming Weekend should help increase book fair traffic, says Paula Brown, a library acquisitions associate.

Leland Speed Library circulation associate Hope Smith is pumped about this year’s switch to Homecoming Weekend. “I hope everybody will be able to come and enjoy the fun, fellowship and fabulous books for sale,” she said. “It’s fun to look for treasures among so many books.”

The library staffers who run the sale with help from students will be receiving a little more assistance this year. A number of Mississippi College faculty spouses have agreed to pitch in.

For more information, contact Paula Brown at 601.925.3432.