Remember the thrill you felt when you visited the school book fair as a child? You can experience that rush again at a Book Fair for Grown-ups. The event will be held at the Columbia Public Library, 24 S. Sixth St., Columbia, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 11.

"Who doesn't love a book fair?" said Heather Beury, library director. "I had attended one at Hershey Public Library, and it was really neat. It was well run, and I really, really enjoyed it. I thought, 'This is a cool opportunity for us.' Kids get book fairs, and adults don't want to be left out anymore."

The library will work with Cupboard Maker Books, an Enola-based business that organized the Hershey Library event as well.

"They will bring in books and set up throughout the first floor," Beury said. "On the library's end, we will have light refreshments by donation, and we will also have gift wrapping by donation. So, maybe you want to shop for Mother's Day."

Each sale at the book fair will benefit the library, with 20% of proceeds going to support its programs and services.

Preregistration is not required for the book fair, but anyone who does register before the event will be eligible for a chance to win a door prize.

"We will only be open for the book fair that evening. No library services will be available during the book fair," Beury remarked. "It's just a fun opportunity for a friends' night out or a moms' night out. Anybody is welcome to attend."

The book fair is just one of many initiatives in the works at the library.

A new teen corner opened on March 31, created in memory of lifelong Columbia resident Patrick Donan, who passed away in 2023.

"In his obituary, they asked for donations in his name to the library," Beury said. "With the money we received, we wanted to do something in honor and memory of him."

Signs in the area note that the space was established in his name.

"We have two comfy chairs, and we have a high-top table with two chairs," Beury stated. "Students can exchange their student ID and borrow a card game to play with friends."

The teen space is located in the back of the fiction wing, near the young adult collection.

"We had been talking for two or three years about how we as a staff could create a space to welcome teens in," Beury said. "You have your adult area, and you have your children's area, but then you have people in between those ages who want a space, too. We wanted to create a welcoming space for teens."

Additional upcoming library programs will include Summer Reading, which kicks off on Saturday, June 7. This year's theme is "Color Our World."

While specifics of Summer Reading opportunities are still being finalized, Beury noted, "We are committed to quality educational programming."

The library is also in the process of establishing a Friends of the Library group.

"We'd love to have people who can help facilitate events and serve in other ways," she said.

The staff is also discussing the creation of a "library of things," expanding the library's service beyond books.

"Maybe you want to play pickleball, but you don't want to buy everything," Beury said. "You'll be able to come here and try it out. You can borrow the equipment and see if it's something you enjoy before you invest in it. Maybe you use an ice cream maker once a year, and you don't want to have to store it. Who wants to buy something you use once a year? Come here, check it out with your library card, use it and return it."

The library already features STEM kits for kids to borrow, so this is just another way to expand services to even more people, she said, noting that the staff hopes to have this programming operational by late 2025 or early 2026.

"We would also like to get a book delivery service going," Beury said. "We would have volunteers who would take books to people who can't physically get to the library. Maybe you don't drive, or you don't have access to transportation. Any little thing we can do to serve people, we want to do."

The library also has plans for more book fairs and additional events in the future, she said, all structured with the goal of providing a safe space for people to gather and enjoy themselves.

"When you come into the library, it's a place you can just exist for free," Beury said. "You don't have to make a purchase to be here. We just want to help and serve the community any way we can."

For more information on the Book Fair for Grown-ups or other library programs, visit https://columbiapubliclibrary.org and click on the calendar tab.