The 2007 Buffalo Small Press Book Fair will be featuring readings and lectures from area poets, academics, and artists. These events will take place in adjacent rooms at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum where the event is being held.

All of the readings and lectures are free and open to the public, so when you need a rest from browsing the selection of small press fare, find and seat and see what the local poets, artists, and scholars have to offer!

The 2007 Buffalo Small Press Book Fair takes place on March 31, 2007 from noon to 6pm. The event will be held at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located at 453 Porter Avenue in Buffalo, NY. (See below for map and directions.)

The book fair is a one day event that brings together booksellers, authors, bookmakers, zinesters, small presses, artists, poets, and regional cultural workers of all kinds in a venue where they can share ideas and peddle their wares. Tables will be available at the event where people can showcase and sell their work. Poetry readings, performances, discussions, and related lectures are also scheduled to go on throughout the day. The event is FREE to attend and open to the public! Vending (selling your wares) does however cost money - a modest fee.

The Karpeles Museum building was purchased on August 7, 1995 after many months of negotiations. The enormous building needed over $2,000,000.00 in extensive rebuilding including a new modern high power electrical service, a new main heating boiler system, and much more - even creating moulds to replace lost ornate pillar capitols. The first task of removing truckloads of pigeon droppings took over two months. Even some of the huge and ornate copper roof gutters were duplicated and replaced.

Finally on December 18, 1996, the first provisional exhibit was installed while work proceeded. The work had continued for over 3 years until October 1998 when the first phase of the rebuilding was finished and a permanent occupancy permit was applied for. Although many additional tasks remain (such as the repair of the leaded glass window 'paintings', some over 4" thick) it is expected that a grand opening may be celebrated soon. Meanwhile, in addition to our exhibit in the main exhibit halls, the Buffalo Symphony, our next door neighbor, is currently holding auditions in the museums smaller auditoriums.