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Library’s winter book fair is off if coordinator isn’t found

Saranac Lake Free Library Director Pete Benson holds a copy of David McCullough’s “John Adams” biography — one among roughly 20,000 books that will available at the Winter Carnival Book Fair, but only if a volunteer coordinator is found. (Enterprise photo — Jesse Adcock)

SARANAC LAKE — The 30th annual Winter Carnival Book Fair will be canceled if a coordinator is not found soon.

“If we don’t have the appropriate personnel to run the event,” Saranac Lake Free Library director Pete Benson said, “then we can’t run it. So that’s where we find ourselves right now.”

The library needs a volunteer coordinator to help manage, plan and organize the upcoming book fair. The previous coordinator, Gloria Drucker, stepped down after more than a decade coordinating the fairs. Benson said Drucker has stayed on as treasurer.

“Whoever comes forward, we would offer them lots of support,” Benson said. “Gloria has offered to, you know, share her knowledge with whoever this individual is, or individuals.”

Plural is key there — Benson said that the library is not strictly looking for one person. It could be a couple of pals.

“So if a single individual does not want to be the overall coordinator,” Benson said. “Perhaps they have a friend, or a partner, that would be willing to co-chair — that would be fine.”

The book fair is currently scheduled for Feb. 7, 8 and 9, at the tail end of Winter Carnival. The coordinator would be responsible for managing the volunteers on those days and making sure that everything runs smoothly. Though Benson said the coordinator would not need to be present all day, everyday — it’s still a serious time commitment. The volunteer would also be responsible for helping prepare and break down the book fair.

The winter fair usually brings in around $7,000 for the library, and its sister fair in August usually clears around $12,000, Benson said. There are approximately 20,000 books available — sourced from donations to the library, or weeded from the library stacks. Books that aren’t sold after four fairs are donated to Better World Books.

“So together, it’s just under 20 grand,” Benson said. “That’s a significant amount of money for us. The both events rely on a couple of dozen volunteers. And they do all sorts of different jobs.”

The dollars raised support the library’s operating costs. The August fair, now on its 64th year, is covered — Benson said library board member Sarah Shoemaker has stepped up to fill the role.

Benson said there are two essential qualities for a prospective coordinator: good with people, and a good sense of humor. Benson said the library board set a deadline for Dec. 31 to fill the role, or the fair gets the ax this year.

“I understand people have lots of other responsibilities and events going on in their lives,” Benson said, “but we still a coordinator. We’re still stuck. So that’s where we find ourselves right now.”

If you want to support the Saranac Free Library Winter Carnival Book Fair, contact the library at 518-891-4190.

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