Establish contact with your bookfair company's rep first thing. They can be an invaluable source of information on how to operate your event. Then contact some of the parents who have, like you, given lots of time working these events. They can give you tips and may even offer to join you in putting the book fairs together. Also, don't forget to talk with your teachers. If your school is like ours, the teachers use the book fairs as an opportunity to add to their classroom libraries. They can give you ideas on what they are looking to purchase and recommendations they may be making to their parents. Lastly, talk with your librarian, he/she can probably give you some tips on what to stock.
This is my first year as Bookfair chairman. Our previous chairs moved on to other schools. They were both stay at home moms who had lots more time to devote to it. I work full time and sort of got the position by just being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I love bookfair week and have always devoted lots of time to it, but never totally on my own. I usually like duties assign to me not the being the one giving out the assignments. Any suggestions for a first timer. Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.