Annual Amer. Red Cross Book Fair starts today

More than 80,000 books are available at the 26th annual American Red Cross Book Fair, which begins today and runs through Oct. 6.

Items such as textbooks, popular fiction, children’s books, rare collectibles and signed books can be found at the fair, located on the Monroe County Fairgrounds.

In recent years, the book fair has expanded to include a media section filled with CDs, DVDs and cassettes.

All books and media are donations given to the Red Cross throughout the year.
“There is not a day that goes by that we do not have someone donating books. It’s an amazing amount of goodwill that is in this community,” said Sue Gulley,
executive director for the Monroe County chapter of the American Red Cross.

Multiple copies of popular fiction titles such as the “Twilight” or “Harry Potter” series, or popular DVD and CDs, can be found.

For college students looking to save money, it’s hard to beat the prices at the book fair, Caroline Tattersall, IU student representative for the American Red Cross Board said in an e-mail.

Hardback books are sold for $3, softbound books for $1 and DVDs for $4 each.

There is an admission fee of $10 today, but admission is free for the rest of the fair. Children 12 and younger are free.

Proceeds from the book fair go toward Red Cross disaster relief missions, communication services for military families and life-saving skills education.

“Last year we did very well, and exceeded our expectations,” Gulley said. “I hope the same happens this year. We hope this is an event that is recession-proof.”

The fair is an annual fundraiser for the Monroe County Red Cross that has become one of the largest book fairs in the Midwest.

“I simply could not get over the size of the fair and the number of people that come through. People were coming from Cincinnati, Louisville and all over,” Tattersall said in an e-mail.

The event requires help from Red Cross volunteers in the community. IU American Red Cross Club President Katie Soukup said she wanted the club as involved as possible with the fair this year.

The club assisted in the weeklong setup, and members will also help facilitate the actual event.

Five thousand patrons attended the 2008 book fair, and the Red Cross anticipates a high turnout again this year.

“Not only is the Red Cross creating an awesome event, but the proceeds go to benefit the people who need it in Monroe and Owen county,” Soukup said.