Book Bazaar at Mississippi College Attracts Hundreds of Customers
J.B. Potts was among hundreds of satisfied customers searching for bargains at Mississippi College’s annual book bazaar.
“I bought everything for my William Faulkner collection I didn’t have,” Potts said after taking another look at thousands of items for sale, many at the rock bottom price of $1.
The English professor purchased $54 worth of books at Wednesday’s sneak preview for faculty and staff. The Jackson resident returned to join bigger crowds on the basketball gym floor Thursday. “I never miss it.”
Potts has written extensively in scholarly publications about the literary works of Faulkner and other Southern authors like James Dickey of South Carolina. The MC book fair remains one of his favorite fall events on the Clinton campus. “I love it,” Potts said.
Proceeds from MC’s annual book fair benefit the university’s Leland Speed Library. Books penned by noted authors like Eudora Welty, best-selling novelist John Grisham, and award-winning Clinton artist Wyatt Waters were all part of the three-day event in early October.
Leland Speed Library director Kathleen Hutchison says there’s already talk of hosting next year’s event at the same time in October. This fall’s book fair including special items sold at a silent auction ends on Saturday.
Students, faculty, staff, and metro Jackson residents were busy browsing among the stacks of children’s books, the Elvis albums, reference materials, Bibles, paperbacks, music tapes and much more.
An MC senior from Crystal Springs, Jackie Lang was making her first visit to the book fair. She walked away delighted about her purchase of a reference book on the Bible for a mere $2. The book fair, she said, is a wonderful place to purchase items at bargain basement prices. And, “it’s for a good cause,” said the elementary education major.
“I’m just excited about looking,” said Mississippi College freshman Mary Ann McCarty of Meridian. “There are lots of books and CDs.”
Librarians like Michelle Lynne Finerty stayed busy working as cashiers. She’s been selling lots of reference books and hardback fiction.
The book bazaar became a three-day event for the first time this fall. Over the years, the popular activity has received help from the friends of the Leland Speed library organization, retired MC faculty and staff, students and other university supporters.
For more information, contact Leland Speed library director Kathleen Hutchison at 601.925.3870 or khutchis@mc.edu.
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