By Susan Hughes

American Association of University Women

Local book lovers will enjoy browsing for books for the 62nd year when the American Association of University Women's (AAUW) Longmont Branch opens their annual Bargain Book Fair at 9 a.m. Friday in the Fellowship Hall at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. This community event has been held in various locations throughout Longmont during the past 61 years and has raised thousands of dollars in scholarships for women and girls and various community projects.

The first AAUW book fair was held Saturday, Nov. 14, 1953, at the St. Vrain Memorial Building. The fair was the first of its kind to be held in Longmont; members had gone to Denver and selected 700 children's books of all types and prices to offer the community, an usually large offering of books at the time. Members provided child care and free coffee, tea and cookies to those attending the event. Proceeds were used to finance the Annual Senior Girl Cash Award, which was given each year to an outstanding senior girl in Longmont High School who intended to attend college.

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By 1962, the format of the sale had changed and only used books were sold at the annual event. Now, members collect used books throughout the year but most donations are received when collection barrels are placed throughout the community several months before the fair. Generous community members donate thousands of books each year.

Most of the proceeds from last year's sale went into AAUW's Scholarship Fund and their Community Actions Grants Fund, both administered by the Longmont Community Foundation. Three local grants were given to the Open Door ESL Program, Intercambio, and Safe Shelter of St. Vrain Valley's TERA Program (Teens Ending Relationship Abuse).

The AAUW will be taking donations of books through Oct. 10 at all King Soopers in Longmont, Firestone and Gunbarrel; the Carbon Valley Recreation Center, 701 Fifth St., Frederick; and the following locations in Longmont, Lucky's Market, 700 Ken Pratt Blvd, #201; Sprouts, 1101 S Hover St.; Vitaman Cottage, 1745 Main St., and the Longmont YMCA, 950 Lashley St.

The hours of this year's fair will be from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday, and Oct. 17, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18, at St. Stephen Episcopal Church, 1303 S. Bross Lane, Longmont.

A popular new feature of the fair is the Sunday box sale. You can fill an empty book box with your choice of books from 2 p.m. until closing and pay just $10. During this time the smaller paperbacks will be free for those making another purchase.

For more information about the sale, please visit AAUW's website at Longmont-co.aauw.net or visit the Longmont AAUW Bargain Book Fair on Facebook. The purpose of AAUW is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy and research.

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