This Friday and Saturday will see the return of the popular Provincial Booksellers’ Fairs Association (PBFA) Ilkley Book Fair to the Kings Hall and Winter Garden.
"The event has been held in Ilkley for over forty years" says Louise Harrison, the fair manager "but there will be many who have never visited and we are really keen to attract new visitors as well as welcome long term supporters to the event.
"Over 35 dealers from all over the country will be attending offering a huge variety of second hand and out of print books, maps, prints and related ephemera. There will be items to suit every pocket from just a pound or two to tens and in some instances hundreds of pounds for rare and sought after items.
"If you are interested in local history, country pursuits, cookery, political or military history or enjoy a particular genre of fiction you are likely to find something of interest.
"Most of the items available are likely to have been out of print for some time and often we find that long searched for pamphlets or missing titles from a well loved series of books have been found unexpectedly. Sometimes we never really know what we are looking for until we find it!"
"Browsing among the many hundreds of items can spark memories of books read in childhood or forgotten authors" says Louise "second hand books represent the ultimate in recycling are often extremely good value and also offer a pleasant interlude in demanding times. They also offer unique gift ideas or provide missing information in family history searches or academic studies.
"If you haven't tried visiting a book fair before Ilkley is a friendly event offering a wide selection for casual readers as well as more select items for long term enthusiasts all are welcome and as admission to the Fair is free why not come and see what it is all about".
There will be a cafe offering light refreshments giving time and space for visitors to catch up with like minded book lovers. Admission to the fair is free and opening times are from 12 noon to 6pm on Friday and from 10am - 4pm on Saturday.
