Published May 05. 2026 04:19PM
The 64th annual AAUW (American Association of University Women) Bethlehem Book Fair was held at the Bethlehem Municipal Ice Rink from an April 23 preview day through an April 27 bag day. Donations were accepted for three weeks leading into the event.
Co-chairs for the 2026 fair were Debbie Spinney and Joan Howe, who expressed their gratitude for the City of Bethlehem’s support for the annual event.
Spinney said that nearly 1,900 strawberry boxes were filled with donated books of many genres and Howe noted prices ranged from a high of $5 to a low of $1, which is based on the both the copyright date and condition of a book.
Spinney said nearly 300 book fair patrons paid to get the best of the best offerings at the April 23 preview night.
Proceeds from the event fund scholarships for young women who are graduating from, Freedom, Liberty, Louis E. Dieruff and William Allen high schools. In 2025 about 30 students benefited and the 2026 book fair is anticipated to provide a similar number of scholarships according to organizers.
Information about the AAUW Book Fairs is available at Bethlehem-pa.aauw.net/book-fair.
Balancing her prospective purchases on her walker, Betsy Moerder from Limeport says she buys for her own and her mother’s reading enjoyment.
Book Fair patrons peruse the many offerings at this year’s book fair on April 24.
Mary Silimperi of Bethlehem shops in the literature section. She had her eye on books by author Jane Austen and Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.”
PRESS PHOTO BY DANA GRUBBLongtime AAUW member Ginny Stenglein processes payment for Whitehall resident Joan Shafer at the checkout table.
