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What’s smart, cheap and good for the soul? A $3 book

On October 2 to 4, support students at the 20th Concordia Used Book Fair.
September 26, 2016
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By Susan Attafuah-Callender


For those who love that old-book smell, great things are in store this fall.

Two decades in and still going strong, the Concordia Used Book Fair draws crowds and support for students. This year, thousands of paperbacks and hardcovers will fill the atrium of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Building) on October 3 and 4, as the tradition continues.

Used book Fair

Whether it’s a thriller or Harlequin Romance, there’s plenty to choose from for any kind of book lover.

“What people are always surprised by is the variety of books we have,” says Susan Hawke, the event’s chief organizer.

All proceeds from the sale go toward scholarships and Concordia’s Multi-faith and Spirituality Centre’s Student Emergency and Food Fund.

In its two decades, the event has raised more than $160,000 for Concordia student scholarships and the Multi Multi-faith and Spirituality Centre’s Student Emergency and Food Fund.

In 2015-16, the centre had more than 580 visits from some 266 students, and distributed $55,385 in grocery gift cards, about $95 per visit.

The fundraiser accepts donations year-round from individuals and organizations looking to find good homes for their books.

Although the fair is now older than most of this year’s entering class, it offers plenty of good, affordable reads for new students — and the rest of the Concordia community. Here are the top seven finds to watch for at the Concordia Used Book Fair:

Cookbooks: While not normally the bread-and-butter of the book fair, cookbooks make up a sizeable part of this year’s collection. There’s something for every at-home chef!

Art books: These range from $10 to $15 — making them some of the priciest items — yet this year’s art books are in beautiful condition, making them a great bargain.

Textbooks: In all areas of study, hard- and softcover textbooks can be found for just $8. Communication studies books are in abundance this year thanks to a large donation from a film organization.

Bags of books for $10: Grab as many readables as you can fit into the carry-on bag in the last hour of the last day of the book fair.

Reference: Snap up a thesaurus to broaden your vocabulary or pick up a Spanish-English dictionary and start planning your first student exchange.

Novels for $3: In every fiction genre from sci fi to mystery to romance, novels make up the bulk of the used books that will fill the EV Building’s atrium.

Biographies: Like fiction, biographies sell for $3 — not a bad price for a book that took a lifetime to write.

Invite your friends, family, colleagues and students to shop at

Concordia Used Book Fair

Over the last two decades, the Concordia Used Book Fair has raised over $150,000. Our 2016 goal is to raise $15,000 — with your support we will reach this milestone!

Textbooks, mysteries, Can Lit, classics and more from $3 and up.

Gate prizes throughout the sale — help spread the word! Every purchase helps the next generation of Concordia students.

Get first dibs on books at Pre-sale: Sunday, October 2, 2016

  • 2 p.m.–4 p.m.
  • $5 entrance fee — 100 per cent of proceeds earmarked for bursaries
  • Atrium, Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex, 1515 Ste. Catherine St. W.

Monday, October 3, and Tuesday, October 4, 2016

  • 10 a.m.—7 p.m.
  • Atrium, Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex, 1515 Ste. Catherine St. W

To volunteer: Contact Susan Hawke at susan.hawke@concordia.ca.



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