ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - It has been a staple for avid readers in the region for years and is in jeopardy of not happening this year.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has been looking high and low for a location for this year's book sale with no luck. The former Elder-Beerman building, where they have been for the past several years, is not an option. They are now looking for a large open space of 10,000 to 15,000 square feet to house the sale, which would be available from June through mid-September.
"Within Allen County, because our scholarships go to Allen County girls, so we like to keep that in Allen County. It has to have some parking access where we could unload books. It can't like be a second floor; it's got to be on a ground-level. If we could have some working air and some working toilets, that would be really nice for our workers, but we can get by with fans and we can get port-a-potties if we have to do that," explained Sue Ann Shaw, co-chair of the AAUW.
If the group can't find a location, they may be forced to cancel and not award scholarships. The American Association of University Women has given scholarships for more than 60 years, and canceling this year would be heartbreaking for more than just their members.
"The first scholarship was given in 1958. So you know how long this has been going. It is a great asset to the girls in Allen County. We gave fourteen $1500 scholarships this last year. So you know we are a force in Lima. We are doing good," added Shaw.
If you have a space that the American Association of University Women could use, contact them by leaving a message on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/aauw.lima.ohio.
