Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City Essay

Exclusively available on IvyPanda Available only on IvyPanda

Introduction

San Antonio has the highest illiteracy rate in Texas. Poverty is a high risk factor for illiteracy and the rate of illiteracy among poor children is high. The National Research Council found that about 70 percent of children in fourth grade in poor urban schools did not read at the basic level which is required in order to succeed academically (Clark, 1991).

We will write a custom essay on your topic a custom Essay on Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City
808 writers online

Book fairs have become popular in the America. They are an effective way through which reading is promoted. Books make a big difference both to the individual and the society. Books are especially important in a democratic society as they are ways through which ideas are preserved and discussed (Clark, 1991).

Who is likely to attend?

A book fair in San Antonio would be attended by panelists whose interest would be to discuss the future in books, lovers of poetry who would listen and enjoy recitations and publishers. There would also be book-lovers out to get more information on the books at the fair and authors out to advertise their works (Cuba and Robertson, 2008). Linguists and publishers would also be in attendance. Besides these groups of people, there would be teachers whose interest is collecting information and widening their scope on books that would assist them pass on knowledge to their students. Students are also likely to attend so as to get exposure to books and authors. Parents might also attend so that they get a chance to link with books that might be of assistance to their children. Hence, the bookfair would receive people whose interest is purely the love of literature and reading and others on academic interest. Bookfairs attract readers, publishers, writers, librarians, booksellers, and teachers, lovers of language and literacy groups. The number might however be small despite the diverse group of the attendants. More often than not, book fairs in the city have an attendance of about one thousand people (Clark, 1991).

Problems that could arise

The book fair is however likely to encounter a number of challenges. First, with the current economic difficulties in America, it is possible that though people will be exposed to a lot of material which they would desire to acquire, they may not afford it. San Antonio being a poor city, most of the population can barely afford extras in the home. Purchases might therefore be minimal.

In addition, being a high illiteracy city, Clark (1991) says that people might fail to see the need to leave their comfort just so that they can join a bookfair parade. Readers have a social responsibility to promote reading and therefore the bookfair will have its share of enthusiasts. A majority of the people might however not see the need to attend. Being a non-profit event, organizers will be faced with great financial pressure that goes with arranging the recreational part of the fair.

Sale of books

Not all people will be happy with the idea of book fairs. The people interested in the promotion of books care more about the profits they will make during the event. They have no interest in the intangible gains. For a bookfair in San Antonio, publishers and booksellers might find it difficult to think of the uncertainties of sale of their books (Cuba and Robertson, 2008). On the other hand, readers who think that reading is only for the elites will look at the event as an occasion for fun. They might be involved in conversations about popular and famous writers and controversial works (Cark, 1991). However, the book fair might not make such great sales. This does not mean that no sales will be made. Once readers are moved by upcoming writers and possibly ideas that are provocative, they might order for bestsellers from the local bookshops. Families might however attend just so that they have fun since the book fair will be affordable and not formal. The probability that they will purchase is not so great.

Would it be a success or a failure?

Considering the fuss that comes with book fairs, a book fair in San Antonio is likely to be a success. What with a lot of storytelling and costumed entertainers on the streets. It is a chance for stories to be sung, strangers to argue about novels’ undercurrents and children to meet their heroes of such and such a book. Booksellers are likely to make huge successes out of the event while people will be exposed to a variety of reading material that will be vital in throwing illiteracy out of the state. What the book fair will do is nurture a community of readers.

1 hour!
The minimum time our certified writers need to deliver a 100% original paper

Most of the population of San Antonio is not book-conscious. A book fair will not be one of those events that might interest them. Nevertheless, committed readers will be on an outreach mission in the community (Clark, 1991). They will tell their neighbors about that writer or printer whom they met at the book fair. This will trigger interest in the neighbors who will ask questions and eventually curiosity will drive them to the fairs. Even if they fail to attend, the campaign done by book enthusiasts will go a long way in reaching out to a great audience.

References

Clark, Bernadine. 1991. Bookfairs and book festivals in North America. Washington: Library of Congress.

Cuba, Nan & Robertson, Riley (eds.). 2008. Art at our doorstep: San Antonio writers and artists. Trinity University Press.

Print
Need an custom research paper on Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City written from scratch by a professional specifically for you?
808 writers online
Cite This paper
Select a referencing style:

Reference

IvyPanda. (2021, December 5). Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City. https://ivypanda.com/essays/benefits-of-a-non-profit-bookfair-festival-for-a-major-us-city/

Work Cited

"Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City." IvyPanda, 5 Dec. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/benefits-of-a-non-profit-bookfair-festival-for-a-major-us-city/.

References

IvyPanda. (2021) 'Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City'. 5 December.

References

IvyPanda. 2021. "Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City." December 5, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/benefits-of-a-non-profit-bookfair-festival-for-a-major-us-city/.

1. IvyPanda. "Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City." December 5, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/benefits-of-a-non-profit-bookfair-festival-for-a-major-us-city/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Benefits of a Non-Profit Bookfair Festival for a Major US City." December 5, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/benefits-of-a-non-profit-bookfair-festival-for-a-major-us-city/.

Powered by CiteTotal, best citing machine
If you are the copyright owner of this paper and no longer wish to have your work published on IvyPanda. Request the removal
More related papers
Cite
Print
1 / 1