The Buckeye Book Fair: An Ohio tradition for 30 years
The 30th annual Buckeye Book Fair will take place on Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fisher Auditorium.
"It's remarkable that it's our 30th year," said Julia Wiesenberg, executive director for the Buckeye Book Fair. Wiesenberg has been at the helm of the statewide tradition for 12 of those years.
"It's our job to put a spotlight on Ohio's authors," Wiesenberg said. "This way people hear about authors like Harold Brown." Brown has written a book about his days as a Tuskegee Airman and will have a featured exhibit this year.
The 92-year-old author was part of the segregated pilot training program in World War II. He will display memorabilia and photos during the fair.
"Anybody can have a book fair with a well-known author," Wiesenberg said. "Our authors aren't necessarily going to be on people's radars, and that's where we come in. These people are deserving of being household names."
The first step to increasing visibility and name recognition of the book fair authors is including them in the yearly booklet. The booklet lists every author scheduled to attend the fair along with a brief bio and book description.
"Our brochure is in people's homes and libraries across the state, and that's our first step in making them household names," Wiesenberg said.
In Wooster some of the 16,000 twenty-four-page booklets that are printed each year also are available in coffee shops and downtown restaurants.
The Buckeye Book Fair includes illustrators in the mix along with authors. "We are both literary and artsy," Wiesenberg said. "We encourage the illustrators to have activities at their tables that really get the kids involved."
This year's highlights will include two author presentations for children and two for adults.
Illustrator Jeffrey Ebbeler ("Melvin the Mouth") will give a drawing lesson for age six and over from 11 a.m. to noon. "Mission to Pluto" author Mary Kay Carson will take audience members age 8 and up on a tour of the solar system from noon to 1 p.m.
Two adult presentations will round out the afternoon. James A. Willis, author of "Central Ohio Legends & Lore," will separate fact from fiction for some Ohio legends at 1-2 p.m. Landscape photographer Ian Adams will take audience members on a tour of some of the most scenic spots in the Buckeye State from 2-3 p.m.
All presentations will take place in the auditorium. Additional activities and displays will be found throughout the fair.
Wiesenberg has a review team to help with the daunting task of reading every book that is considered for inclusion. "We split up all the reading and reviewing and recommending, and that helps with the selection process."
Books are located by searching publisher catalogues for Ohio connections. "I get a lot of suggestions and tips from my book reviewers and volunteers," Wiesenberg said. "I also get a few book selections from Ohio newspaper articles about authors."
Her position has always been a jack-of-all-trades sort of job, Wiesenberg explained. She handles all the author and publisher contacts as well as publicity.
Of fair day, she said, "I'm everybody's point person, coordinating 100 authors and 100 volunteers."
The Buckeye Book Fair is a nonprofit organization that gets involved in literacy well beyond the actual fair. Book fair gift certificates are given away to schools and libraries for $500 worth of free books.
"This marries two missions," Wiesenberg said, "supporting authors and reading projects."
The fair also was able to fund something new this year: an upcoming author visit to Ida Sue School.
Grant writing is a newer addition to Wiesenberg's list of job duties. She is hoping to obtain funding to expand the program and hold additional author visits throughout Ohio.
Authors and patrons come from all corners of Ohio for the Buckeye Book Fair. "It's much more than a sale," book fair author Dandi Daley Mackall said. "It's an event." This year will be Mackall’s 26th consecutive year at the fair.
"I love meeting readers, and it's such fun to see the same, loyal ones year after year," said author Karen Harper, who has attended every fair.
Twenty-year fair veteran Kylie Logan said, "The fair is well organized, and the crowds are just incredible. These people really love books and reading, so we've all got one very important thing in common."
This will be illustrator Will Hillenbrand's 19th year at the Buckeye Book Fair. "I love being with people who love books just like I do and people who love giving books just like I do," Hillenbrand said. "It's a little like a family reunion. There are lots of stories and hugs."
Fisher Auditorium is located at 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster. Admission is $2. Visit www.buckeyebookfair.com.
To volunteer at the fair or during the year, email Wiesenberg at buckeyebookfair@gmail.com.
"When people say they don't have time to read," Wiesenberg said, "I say that everything we've ever learned was written down in a book."