Harlem Book Fair Weathers Problems

by Calvin Reid -- Publishers Weekly, 8/2/2004

Despite the threat of rain and a shortage of volunteers, the sixth annual Harlem Book Fair drew more than 40,000 book lovers to 135th Street in New York City's Harlem July 25.

Max Rodriguez, cofounder and organizer of the Harlem Book Fair, said HBF continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. This year, the fair was extended one block longer along 135th street, and, he said, booksellers and publishers reported solid book sales. Amber Books, he noted, sold more than 2,000 copies of its titles.

A number of panels were well attended, including "Spirituality of Our Nation" (featuring author Derrick Bell and journalist Juan Williams) and "The Rise and Fall of American Soul" (with music critic Greg "Ironman" Tate and jazz impresario George Wien).

But Rodriguez acknowledged that there were problems, including the failure of a number of volunteers to show up. "The fair continues to grow larger and faster than we expected," he said. "We were hampered by the threat of rain. Many volunteers did not show, and we were short on manpower." Rodriguez said the fair will need to have "a greater number of paid staff available on the day of the fair to back up the volunteer staff."