When we arrived at Boothbay Region Elementary School to talk to Verna Werlla, she was seated at the checkout table and on the phone with a customer service representative from Scholastic Books trying to fix a problem.

Werlla, of Boothbay Harbor, is celebrating her 15th year of volunteering at the BRES Scholastic Book Fair, which is held three times a year – in September, January/February and May/June – and organized by the BRES PTO for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. During the five-day book fairs, she said she is there every day from 11 a.m. until the close of school. She checks out books, works with teachers on ordering books, trains other volunteers and answers any questions the students may have about books.

“Unless I am ill or have another commitment, I am here during the book fair days,” said Werlla. “I am also a substitute teacher but the school knows not to schedule me during book fair weeks.”

Werlla began volunteering after Jo Haney, former BRES teacher and librarian who retired last year, approached her one day at the YMCA and asked her if she would be interested in helping at a book fair.

Having a steady volunteer is a blessing to any organization and the PTO is no different.

“Verna is so essential to the PTO; we truly cannot do it without her,” said Anna Giles, current PTO president and a member of the PTO for the past five-plus years. “She is great with the kids, loves the book fair and is there every book fair from 11 to close. She is definitely our most dedicated volunteer. We love Verna!”

“Mary Baudo closes up the book fair each day and someone comes in to set up the display every day,” said Werlla, who also buys some of the books to use when she does some babysitting. “And one great thing that Scholastic does is provide us with a box of free books to hand out to those students who can’t afford to purchase books.”

Werlla said this year’s hot book series include Bad Dog, Captain Underpants, Magic Tree House and Pig the Pug.

This past Tuesday was Family Night at the book fair. Werlla said it was busy because it was also a teacher open house and the annual community cookout.

Did she attend Family Night?

“No,” she whispered. “I don’t come because of all the questions I would get.”

This month’s book fair was Sept. 16-20. Look for the next one after the new year. “We post the book fair on the PTO Facebook page and the school’s Facebook page and website,” said Werlla. “And the book fair is not just for the students and parents. We have grandparents come here quite often to buy books. It is for the whole community.”