The Book Bazaar: Philanthropy Through Reading
Each year for a weekend in September, book lovers, teachers, and academics flock to the Centenary College Fitness Center for the Centenary Muses annual Book Bazaar. Thousands of donated books, puzzles, DvDs, CDs, and vinyls are set up on tables and shelves, marked down to a bargain price for the Shreveport-Bossier community to peruse. Books are priced, on average, anywhere between fifty cents and four dollars. The sale runs from 4 PM – 9PM on Friday and 9 AM – 4 PM on Saturday. Typically, all merchandise is half off from 1 PM – 4 PM on Saturday to encourage a final rush of sales.
This year, the Book Bazaar ran from September 12th through September 13th. While the official set up takes a little under a week, the Centenary Muses spend all year collecting, organizing, evaluating, and pricing the books in preparation for the big event. This year, an estimated 60,000 items were set out for sale. The variety of items each year is expansive, and this year was no exception. During set up, volunteers from different organizations help the Muses volunteers put out all the books. I was invited through my athletics team to aid with set up on the Thursday before opening. The gym floor was bustling with volunteers moving boxes, organizing tables, and clearing logistics with the head staff. I was led to assist a Muse with setting up a table for books from modern theologians. I was surprised to note that not only were the books organized by genre from the other tables, but that during set up, we were instructed to alphabetize titles by author and to feature authors that had large collections for sale such as Billy Graham, Beth Moore, C.S. Lewis, and Joyce Meyer. The book collections were so expansive that many of the genres had to have second or third stocks stored away for after the initial rush came through the Bazaar.
The event is exciting for those of us who enjoy books and media, but its primary goal is fundraising for many of the organizations on campus. From set up, to sale time, to break down, many of Centenary’s sports teams, clubs, and arts organizations send members to volunteer in an effort to show support for the Muses that fund so many of their needs. This year, some of the many volunteer organizations included theatre, cheer and STUNT, lacrosse, gymnastics, and swim. The impact of the Book Bazaar speaks for itself as organizations can apply for new equipment that would not be in the budget otherwise.
In a time when so many people are worried about the value and future of literacy and education, it is inspiring to note that such a vital source of fundraising for Centenary students comes from an event whose primary goal is to sell books. Community members of all ages, interests, and backgrounds gather to Centenary to buy books and celebrate knowledge. For one weekend, it is the books that unite us, inspire us, and propel us forward into a new year.