Visit 20th Concordia Used Book Fair!

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.

Although Hawke retired in 2016 from her role as librarian for the Career Resource Centre at Concordia’s Student Success Centre, she continues to organize the book fair. In 2007 the Concordia University Alumni Association presented her with the Benoît Pelland Distinguished Service Award for her long volunteer commitment.

She looks back at some of the highlights of the Used Book Fair’s past two decades.

1997 After long wanting to hold a book-sale fundraiser, Barbara Barclay, BA 74, BEd 76, coordinator of undergraduate programs for Concordia’s Teaching English as a Second Language program, sets up a few tables filled with used books in the mezzanine of the Henry F. Hall Building.

“I saw the piles of books and it was like a magnet for me. So on my coffee break I came and sat with Barbara and then on my lunch break too,” recalls Hawke.

“The next year she did it again, and by then I got sort of roped right in! It just got bigger every year.”

2001 Susan Hawke takes over as chief organizer. She and her volunteers receive donations of books year round and meet once a month to sort through hundreds of them in Concordia’s basement.

“One year a volunteer found an envelope with a British stamp inside one of our books,” she recounts. “When we opened it up, it was a letter from C.S. Lewis! You’d be surprised what you can find in these old books.”

2003 More books means more funds raised. To accommodate the increase in book sales, the book fair becomes an official donor to Concordia and establishes the Used Book Fair Scholarship.

“Sometimes we would get a letter from the student thanking us and saying what a difference it made to get the scholarship. The money is one thing but I think they see it as recognition of their hard work,” she says.

“There’s a feeling of support, like we believe in them. It’s very motivating to share that with my team.”

2007 Short for volunteers, Hawke reaches out to Concordia’s LIVE Volunteer Resource Centre and International Students Office.

“A lot of my volunteers are international students,” she says. Since the book fair is held early each academic year, Hawke adds, “Many are really thrilled as it often gives them their first work experience in Canada and, having only been at the university for a month, it’s a good chance to meet people.”

2011 Coach Clive Gibson and the Concordia men’s rugby team sweep in on a Tuesday night after the sale to help Hawke’s tired volunteers clear dozens of boxes of unsold books out of the atrium of the EV Building

“I remember the first night they came; the team whipped those boxes up in an hour!” she says. The ruggers have been volunteering at the Used Book Fair ever since.

2015 The book fair reaches $160,000 in funds raised since its inception.

“Fundraising is one goal but it’s also become a goal to make it a good experience for everyone,” Hawke says.

2016 Concordia’s Used Book Fair turns 20. Concordia Advancement and Alumni Relations’ communications unit, led by director Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins, BA 97, come on board to help organize the event.

“It’s so great having Sylvain-Jacques and his team this year. They’ve brought a great injection of energy to the team,” says Hawke.

She adds, “The book fair is more than a fundraiser; people really come together.”