Parents in the Rugby Public School District have been used to seeing one book fair in one location every other year. This year parents will have the opportunity to go to two locations.

For the first time, a book fair will be held in the Rugby High School Library.

“I’m kind of nervous (about it),” said Tammy Loran, high school librarian. “I’m hoping it would result in a great experience.”

At about the same time, a book fair will also take place at Ely Elementary.

Before this year’s book fair began, both school librarians were contacted by a representative from Scholastic, a publishing company. The date of the book fair is decided after the school board sets school calendar dates, and Scholastic starts delivering books weeks prior to the event. This week, both libraries have been setting up for the event, which has a medieval theme.

Ely Elementary librarian Kathy Erickson said that for years, students have been the best form of advertising for the event.

“When a student comes to you with a bookmark and says, ‘Please come to our book fair’, you’ll come,” Erickson said with a smile.

Students receive a flyer advertising what books are offered, along with coloring pages and a wish list, on which they fill out with titles of books they want. In addition to buying books for students, parents also volunteer to help out with the book fair.

The book fair also benefits both libraries. A portion of sales, usually 40 to 50 percent, comes back to library in either cash or book reimbursement – which either library has the option of choosing.

The book fair at the high school starts Tuesday and goes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday. Ely’s book fair starts earlier, at 8 a.m. During parent-teacher conferences on Oct. 27 and 28, the book fairs will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., respectively.