FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (7/06)
Media Contact: Amy Giglio, Centenary Book Bazaar liaison, 869-513, or Lynn Stewart or Kelsey Bellamy, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120

20th Anniversary Book Bazaar Expected to Draw Thousands to Centenary Gold Dome Sept. 8-9

SHREVEPORT, LA — Some 50,000 books, along with audio and video tapes and CDs, will be sold at the 20th Anniversary Centenary Book Bazaar on Friday, Sept. 8, and Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Gold Dome. Hours are Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and book prices start at 25 cents. The collection includes hardcover books and paperbacks.

Hummer & Son Honey is the corporate sponsor for this year's event.

At the Book Bazaar, books are placed on tables by category. Among the many categories are: Fiction Over $1 and Fiction Under $1, Treasure Chest (newest books), Science Fiction, Cookbooks, Religion and History. Children’s books, The South and U.S. Presidents are more of the over 30 categories available.

The books are collected from donors throughout the year, priced and sorted into categories by the Centenary Muses, a women’s philanthropy group that supports student activities and projects at Centenary College.

	Zoe Ramsey

Zoe Ramsey, longtime Book Bazaar volunteer, points out that the event is the biggest book recycling project in the area. Ramsey, a retired librarian, manages a team of volunteers who are trained to price books fairly but affordably. The volunteers also look for extra special books to include in the event’s sealed bid auction. Bidders place their bids in a box by each book and the book is awarded to the highest bidder, provided the reserve price has been met.

“These books are donated by local people, and we want to give local people a chance to purchase them,” Ramsey said. If the books do not sell at the sealed bid auction, they will be offered on the Internet to attract a larger market.

Numerous vinyl records, including many Hollywood, Broadway and television soundtracks, will be sold by the Centenary music sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota, on the upper level of the Gold Dome.

Proceeds from the Book Bazaar help fund student projects and activities not included in the regular college budget. Among items funded by the Muses in the past are equipment for the student leisure and extracurricular activities, benches and decks, equipment for student publications, student travel, student recognition activities and a celebration for graduating seniors and their families.

The Muses accept book donations throughout the year at the Book House at 108 East Kings Highway in Centenary Square (across from George’s Grill). The Book House is staffed on Monday and Wednesday. Covered bins are available for donations at other times.

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