After a successful turnout last semester, the Scholastic Book Fair made a return to SRU.
The book fair was on campus from November 11-14. The fair was open for anyone to come and shop, including students, parents and the community.
This was the second time SRU held the Scholastic Book Fair.
The book fair spent two days in the Bailey Library and the rest of its time in McKay Education Building.
It was aligned with Family Night at the preschool, giving parents the opportunity to purchase books and fun school supplies with their children.
Jessica Jordan, who works in Bailey Library and helps ensure it has all the resources students majoring in education would need, has helped bring the book fair to campus.
Last semester, Jordan partnered with a class that was doing a community engagement project to support the McKay Education Building and update the Cultural Literacy Around the World special collection they have.
This semester, Jordan partnered with The Keystone State Literacy Association to bring the book fair back.
Part of the money raised will go to giving books to local schools for their elementary students and the other half to purchase books for the Childcare Center.
Jordan mentioned the process to promote and bring in the book fair is easy. She also talked about how the turnout has been more successful this semester as it grows.
“We had a great turnout, it’s been even better so far this year,” Jordan said.
A reason Jordan loves doing the book fair is because of the nostalgia it brings and the love students have for it as well as helping the education majors build a class library for their future classrooms.
“So, we really did it half and half because we know lots of students don’t make it into McKay and so we were limiting who we were potentially targeting for sales,” Jordan said. “We know that the college students have that nostalgic moment, and we can put it somewhere more centrally located for a couple days, and it gets students to have that opportunity to see the book fair there.”
Jordan talked about how she is grateful for all those who helped throughout the week.
“Thankfully, we have a fantastic facilities crew here at Slippery Rock and they showed up today [in] the library. I had everything packed up, and they gathered it off, moved all these cases, I think 17 boxes of the other books, erasers, pencils and all that fun stuff and they hauled it over here for us,” Jordan said.
Jordan also talked about how she loves doing this to help with a good cause.
“I love that we can get books in kids’ hands,” Jordan said.
Students showed up at the book fair, surprised and excited, mentioning how it brings back memories of when they were younger.
The book fair has grown since last semester with student involvement as well as new products.
“I’m glad we can do it. I love doing it, and I love that we can do it, not only to support our education students, but for our current students to see the book fair and maybe have that moment takes them back to elementary school or middle school or take them home,” Jordan said.
