A Niagara University student organization raised more than $800 at its first Fall Book Fair, held Oct. 7 in the lower level of the Gallagher Center.
Hosted by NU Bookworms, the fair brought together local bookstores and small businesses for an afternoon celebrating books, creativity, and community. Inspired by the school book fairs many attendees remember from childhood, the event invited students, faculty, staff, and community members to browse literary offerings while supporting local businesses and a student organization.
Proceeds will support future club programming and help fund the organization’s planned spring 2027 trip to BookCon in New York City. Through fundraising and community partnerships, the club hopes to make the trip as affordable as possible for participating students and to reduce financial barriers to attending.
Participating vendors included Rust Belt Books, Talking Leaves … Books, The Velvet Bookmark, and Loti Henna Studio. Vendors reported positive sales and expressed interest in returning, suggesting the fair could become a recurring event that supports independent businesses while celebrating literacy and creativity.
Attendees could also enter a raffle featuring more than $500 in donated prizes, including a 12-month Book of the Month membership, a one-year Libro.fm subscription, and a variety of other bookish gifts and experiences. Donors included The Plant Shack; Read It & Eat; Alice, Ever After; Gutter Pop Books; and other community supporters. Drs. John Sauter and David Reilly also made donations to the club.
NU Bookworms is dedicated to bringing people together through stories in all their forms, including books, audiobooks, films, television, music, and podcasts. Through events, discussions, and community initiatives, the club works to create an inclusive space where students can connect over the stories they love.
Club members said the fair’s success reflects the generosity of the vendors, donors, and attendees who helped bring it to life. Building on that momentum, the organization plans to continue fostering a love of stories, strengthening community connections, and making literary experiences more accessible to students. NU Bookworms thanked the Campus Programming Board and the Niagara University Student Government Association for their support, as well as Dave Schoen, director of libraries; Keri Thomas-Whiteside, electronic resources librarian; and Bill Newton, director of campus activities, for their work organizing the event.
