Mark Twain Library Book Fair opens this Friday, August 31

Labor Day weekend in Redding has been synonymous for the past 58 years with the Mark Twain Library Book Fair. It’s an annual town ritual and one of biggest library fundraisers of the year, and it begins on Friday at the Redding Community Center.

Running through Monday, September 3, it is also one of the largest and oldest book fairs in New England, and its reputation as one of the most organized events of its kind has earned it accolades across the region. This year’s sale includes rare signed first editions and a sizable donation from the estate of the renowned author/journalist George Plimpton.

“The Mark Twain Library's Annual Book Fair has been a centerpiece of the Town's community activities for nearly six decades,” said library president Eric Rubury. “Over its four days, nearly 5,000 people are in attendance, making it the single largest event in Redding. With 65,000 books for sale, this is not a side show—it is more like a festival, a celebration of books, with hundreds of our neighbors volunteering their time during the year and during the fair itself.”

The fair offerings this year include an amazing array of fiction and literature, history books, cookbooks, New England history and travel books, books on interior design and many more categories, which will fill every square inch of the Redding Community Center over the course of the four-day event.

“The depth and variety of books this year is once again superior,” said library director Beth Dominianni. “We have an outstanding collection of books for children and teens to choose from, and the art and photography rooms offer some truly special values, as well.”

The gym in the Community Center is one of the busiest areas of the fair. That’s where shoppers will find fiction and non-fiction at exceptional prices; Dominianni recommends arriving early for the best selection.

“People love the great bargains and the thrill of the hunt — finding just the book you wanted or an unexpected surprise that you just have to have,” she said.

“Bibliophiles just feel good in a great big room full of more books than they can fit into their own houses,” added Book Fair co-chair Catherine Riordan. “And they instinctively understand that the One Book (or Ten, or more) that they really, really need is right here, waiting for them to find it — and at a bargain price.”

“As a book lover and shopper, what I love most about the fair is that each day brings something new,” Rubury said. “There's the excitement of a fully-stocked Friday; seeing your friends and neighbors strolling through the rooms and aisles on Saturday; the anticipation of finding remaining gems at half-price on Sunday; and the amazement of what a $10 per box of books can contain on Monday. And being a major fundraiser for the library, all this fun translates into helping support an important and worthy cause.”

All proceeds from the Book Fair go directly toward the operating costs of the library. “Every penny earned at the Fair is spent to assure that the library continues to offer outstanding services and collections to the community,” Dominanni commented.

Opening day is Friday, August 31, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the first hour, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., there is a $20 admission charge and tickets for that hour will be available starting at 8 a.m. There will be a children’s after school event from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., with an ice cream truck from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, September 1, the fair will operate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, September 2 will be “Half-Price Day” and the fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, September 3, the fair will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday will be “Boxing Day” and items will be sold for $10 a box.

Refreshments will be available for sale, there is plenty of free parking, and credit cards are accepted.