Book Bazaar at Mississippi Offers Bargains to Shoppers

Leland Speed Library staff members Hope Smith, Paula Brown and Latisha Sullender are pictured at the Mississippi College book bazaar on October 12. Sullender is the event coordinator.

Books exploring travel, Christian devotionals, children’s classics and masterpieces of modern poetry are appealing to bargain hunters.

And the convenient place offering a diverse collection of books at rock bottom prices remains the sale @Bookend Alley outside Mississippi College’s Leland Speed Library.

Faculty, staff, and students joined Clinton residents searching for their favorites stacked on tables a few feet from College Street.

A 2009 MC graduate Brandy Lauing shopped with three young kids by her side late Thursday morning. “I’m looking for children’s books.”

The Clintonian came to the right place.

Books like “What Makes a Rainbow?” by author Betty Schwartz, William Wegman’s “Mother Goose” and James Gurney’s “Dinotopia” didn’t stay around very long at the Fall Book Bazaar.

Melanie Fortenberry, who writes a food column with her husband, Cliff, in “The Clinton Courier” wasn’t eyeing cookbooks as she shopped. The MC health services administration professor keeps plenty at her home in Clinton.

“I like books that are funny and about middle-aged Southern women,” Melanie Fortenberry said. Books like “Steel Magnolias” are ones she cherishes.

Book sale coordinator Latisha Sullender was delighted to see a steady stream of customers on a crisp Fall day in the Magnolia State. Book sales at Mississippi College last year generated about $10,000 to benefit the Leland Speed Library, the MC graduate noted.

This sale at Mississippi College runs through Saturday. The MC library will host another book bazaar as thousands of fans of the Blue & Gold flock to the university’s 2017 Homecoming. The October 21 book sale begins 9 a.m. that Saturday.

Why wait until Homecoming? MC psychology major Hannah Kanengiser on October 12 discovered three interesting literature books she wanted – from poetry to American short story classics.

A 20-year-old MC senior from Pearl, Hannah enjoyed hunting books and visiting with helpful library staffers like Hope Smith. “There were some good bargains and plenty of friendly people.”

MC kinesiology major Mary Madelon, 20, of Olive Branch counts herself among the satisfied customers. She purchased “Stepping Heavenward” for a mere $1. That’s a steal of a deal for the Christian inspirational book penned by author Elizabeth Prentiss.

Typically as many as 7,000 books and other items are up for grabs at each MC sale.

A social work major, Alissa Wood, 19, of Jacksonville, Florida searched for a book about international travel to European countries like Italy. “I like old classics, too.”

More Mississippi College Book Bazaars @Bookend Alley are scheduled in early November. Stay tuned for more details at the Leland Speed Library on the Clinton campus.