Centenary Book Bazaar caters to bibliophiles, raises funds for college

Books furnish a room.” I’ve always loved that quote. Of course, they impart knowledge, too.

That’s why you must attend the 37th Centenary Book Bazaar sponsored by the Centenary Muses. It opens Friday, Sept. 13.

Held at the college’s fitness center, it continues Saturday, Sept. 14. More than 75,000 items will be available for purchase on Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Traditionally held the weekend after Labor Day, the new date is due to Centenary hosting Hendrix College’s first on-campus NCAA Division III football game on Sept. 7.

Grace Bareikis has been involved for 30 years.

She said the first two sales were held at Mall St. Vincent, and the event was modeled after one in Baton Rouge. They sold 1,500 to 1,800 books and raised $1,500, which they thought was a terrific amount. Now, it’s up to $50,000 to $60,000.

The event has also been held in the Gold Dome.

Books are donated, cleaned and boxed by category in the Book House across from the former George’s Grill. It’s an ever-changing supply. Volunteers work two days a week from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bareikis said with a smile. Donations for this year have already been cut off unless someone has a Gutenberg Bible.

Things volunteers have found in books include airline boarding passes, letters and money.

“We are so grateful to the Muses for their tireless work in putting on a first-class event that raises needed funds for important projects and initiatives on campus,” said Fred Landry, vice president for development.

The bazaar is organized and sponsored by the Muses, a volunteer group of about 40 dedicated to funding student projects and programs.

Over the years, the bazaar has raised more than $1 million for the college, and the Muses have funded projects that touch all aspects of student life, from academics and athletics to student government and the performing arts.

This year’s sale will again offer more than 50 categories of paperback books, hardback books, DVDs, CDs, LP records, games and puzzles. One section is devoted entirely to books found on local middle and high school reading lists, with required titles ranging in price from 25 cents to $1.25.

Categories include religion, children’s books, classics, health, LSU and sports, cookbooks, Louisiana, art, politics, history, novels, humor, the Old West, gardening, animals, nature, psychology, mystery, old and rare, and reference.

Some are brand new, possibly Christmas presents never opened for reading, Bareikis said. Many come from estate sales; the donations haven’t slowed down due to Kindle’s popularity.

Patrons should bring bags or boxes to carry out their books. Carryout assistance is available. Cash or check is accepted. On Saturday, all items are half-price after 1 p.m.

“I have rarely missed a sale since it started, even after moving to the Houston area in 1996,” said Lee Fowler Brady, Centenary Class of 1985. “My mom (who lives in San Augustine) would often attend with me or meet me at the sales. Our houses are full of all kinds of books we’ve gotten.”

As a young teacher in the gifted/talented program in Bossier, she didn’t have a lot of money and was writing her own curriculum. “I bought many books to share with my students. I bought classroom sets of classics — Shakespeare, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.’ I taught units on many things like the Civil War, the Roaring ’20s, World War II, Broadway musicals, the Olympics and classic movies. My classroom was a library. I also saved the kids and myself a lot of money.”

Brady collects books related to classic movies and their stars. “At least 85 percent of my movie book collection came from the sale.” She also collects old sheet music and songbooks. “I love to play piano, and I also sometimes frame the covers,” Brady said.

She always finds books on the places she and her husband have traveled — and at pennies on the dollar from what they sell them for in the tourist shops. “And they won’t weigh down my suitcase,” she said.

“There is literally no room in my house that does not have books I’ve gotten at the sale — cookbooks in the kitchen, gorgeous coffee table books in the den, music books and more fill my office,” she said.

Most of the presents she gets every Christmas come from her mom from the sale. Most of the presents she gives to her mom come from the sale.

“One day, Centenary will get a lot of these books back if the sale continues,” she said. “If I lived in town, I’d be volunteering all the time at the donation center. I’d say rarely a day goes by that I’m not picking up one of the ‘red-penciled-priced’ books for something.”

Her husband (also a Centenary grad) has already planned a few vacation days for the upcoming sale. His parents still live in the area, and he will stay with them while Brady and her mom get a hotel room.

Bareikis said more people come into Centenary on the weekend of the sale than at the commencement.