Readers, dust off your specs and lace up your walking shoes. The annual Greater St. Louis Book Fair takes place April 30 through May 3 in the parking garage at Macy’s, at West County Center. “It’s a book-lover’s paradise, featuring hundreds of thousands of new, gently used and rare books at bargain prices,” says director Marilyn Brown. “It’s the Midwest’s largest charity book fair, by far, and one of the nation’s biggest, oldest and most popular book events.”
For more than 65 years, St. Louisans have marveled at the diverse, high-quality selection of books, records, movies, CDs and DVDs, limited magazines and ephemera found at the fair. “We cater to all ages and tastes, including fashionistas, local archeology buffs and comics fans,” Brown says. “Our inventory includes first, limited and out of print editions, signed copies and other treasures. We post the rare and collectible items on our website, but you never know what you’ll find once you start roaming around!” Collectible items are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, she notes.
Five years ago, fair volunteers discovered an autographed first edition of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, worth $6,500, in a pile of anonymously donated books, Brown recalls. More recently, a fairgoer was delighted to find an original edition of Irma Rombauer’s The Joy of Cooking from 1931. Among the many treasures up for sale this year are a copy of The Fire Next Time, signed by author James Baldwin, a 1939 edition of Cowboys North and South, signed by author Will James, a first edition of A Guide to Audubon’s Birds of America, and a limited edition of Valentino, signed by the famed fashion designer. “And Bob Costas has donated a big collection of sports books, many signed by famed athletes,” Brown adds.
Fair proceeds go to a wide range of local education and literacy programs for the underserved, including ACCESS Academies reading program, First Book St. Louis, Ready Readers, and Webster University Student Literacy Corps. “We’re honored to serve as a presenting sponsor of the Greater St. Louis Book Fair,” says Sean Phillips, regional marketing director of CBL & Associates Properties, parent company of West County Center. “Literacy is crucial to the prosperity of our region, and we support it wholeheartedly. St. Louis is good to us, and we appreciate the opportunity to give back to the community.”
Readers who are downsizing and need to pare down their bookshelves can drop off new or gently used books at four locations: the parking lot at the northwest corner of Forsyth Boulevard and Jackson Avenue in Clayton; the lot near Macy’s south entrance at St. Louis Galleria; the area next to Macy’s loading dock at South County Center; and the area opposite Macy’s loading dock at West County Center. “At the fair, books are arranged by category,” Brown says. “It’s a great way to pursue your interests and explore new ones—and maybe meet someone who’s interested in the same thing!”
[The annual Greater St. Louis Book Fair, benefiting a wide range of local education and literacy programs, takes place April 30 through May 3 at Macy’s, West County Center. Admission is $10 on opening night; all other days are free. Persons with disabilities can enjoy easy access from 9 to 10 a.m. May 2. All items are half-price May 3. For more information, visit stlouisbookfair.org or shopwestcountycenter.com.]
Photo: Bill Barrett
