More Than 17 Hometown Writers Gather Nov. 5-7 to Raise Money for the Spanish Fort Public Library

SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Readers looking for their next favorite book, and perhaps a signed copy to tuck under the tree, will find more than 17 hometown writers under one roof next week, when the Friends of the Spanish Fort Public Library host a three-day Spanish Fort local author fundraiser Nov. 5-7.

The event at the Spanish Fort City Hall Community Center is designed to celebrate the Eastern Shore’s literary talent while raising money for library resources and educational programs. Readers of all ages are invited to meet local writers, browse new titles and buy signed books directly from the people who wrote them.

Spanish Fort local author fundraiser at a glance

• What: Three-day local author fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Spanish Fort Public Library
• When: Thursday, Nov. 5, through Saturday, Nov. 7
• Where: Spanish Fort City Hall Community Center
• Who: More than 17 local authors
• For readers: Meet authors, discover new books and purchase signed copies
• For authors: Booth donation of $30 per day attended
• Benefits: Friends of the Spanish Fort Public Library

Meet the writers behind the books

Author fairs offer something a bookstore shelf cannot: a chance to talk with the person who created the story. Visitors can ask what inspired a novel, how a local history was researched or what a writer is working on next. For children and teens who love to read, or who dream of writing themselves, meeting a published author can be a memorable experience.

Participating authors will display and sell their published works throughout the event and connect with readers face to face. With more than 17 writers taking part, organizers expect a range of styles and subjects, giving guests plenty to browse across the three days.

Signed books also make thoughtful holiday gifts, and the fundraiser’s early November dates give shoppers a head start on the season while keeping their dollars in the local community.

Supporting the library and its programs

Proceeds from author booth donations go to the Friends of the Spanish Fort Public Library. The Friends group says the money will help it continue its mission of enhancing library resources, supporting educational programming and promoting a lifelong love of reading throughout Spanish Fort.

Friends of the Library organizations are a common feature of public libraries across the country. Typically made up of volunteers, these nonprofit support groups raise money through book sales, memberships and special events, then use those funds to pay for extras that a city’s regular library budget may not cover, such as children’s reading programs, author visits, new materials, equipment and special projects.

How authors can take part

Local writers who would like a table at the event are asked to make a booth donation of $30 for each day they attend, with the money benefiting the Friends of the Spanish Fort Public Library. Authors may choose to attend one, two or all three days.

For self-published and independently published writers in particular, community events like this one can be a valuable way to reach new readers, sell copies directly and build connections with other authors in the area.

Sponsorship opportunities

The Friends group is also seeking sponsors. Businesses, organizations and individuals who want to support literacy, education and community engagement can contribute to the event, with those contributions helping the Friends continue their work on behalf of the library.

Those interested in sponsoring the event or reserving an author booth can reach out to the Spanish Fort Public Library for information on contacting the Friends group. Library Director Shanavia Spencer can be reached at [email protected] or 251-410-READ (7323).

About the Spanish Fort Public Library

The Spanish Fort Public Library is located inside the main entrance of the Spanish Fort Community Center at 7361 Spanish Fort Blvd. It offers print and electronic materials, including e-books and audiobooks, along with a regular calendar of programs and events.

The library is a member of the Baldwin County Library Cooperative, which allows cardholders to share physical materials among 14 libraries across the county. Residents can register for a library card online at baldwincat.org and then pick up the card at the library, with proof of residency, within seven days.

Library hours are:

• Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

A growing reading community on the Eastern Shore

Spanish Fort has grown steadily in recent decades into one of Baldwin County’s busiest Eastern Shore communities, and its library has grown alongside it as a gathering place for families, students and lifelong learners. The city takes its name from a fort built during the Spanish colonial period, and it was the site of the Battle of Spanish Fort in the spring of 1865, one of the final major engagements of the Civil War, fought as Union forces closed in on Mobile.

Today, the community’s interest in books and learning shows in events like this one. The fundraiser is meant not only to raise money but also to connect residents with the writers living among them and to support what organizers describe as the area’s growing reading community.

Plan to attend

Organizers encourage residents to stop by during the Nov. 5-7 event, meet talented local authors, find a new book to love and support a cause dedicated to literacy and learning. Readers who want to confirm daily hours before visiting can contact the Spanish Fort Public Library.

Whether guests leave with a stack of signed novels or simply a new name to look for at the library, every visit helps the Friends of the Spanish Fort Public Library keep books, programs and a love of reading within reach for the whole community.