Every year thousands of women stream onto BYU campus, anxious to spend the two days of Women's Conference taking classes and rekindling old friendships. This year is no different.

To accommodate the expected 18,000 women, the BYU Bookstore has invited artists, authors and musicians, has extended bookstore hours and has set up an extra shopping facility.

"Every year we try to find a new thing, so that when [the Women's Conference visitors] come to see us, they can find the best we can provide for that year," said Val Ugolini, BYU Bookstore art and frame buyer supervisor.

Ugolini said he started looking months ago to find great artists, new frames and better discounts.

"I try to find new artists, or artists that have never been to the Bookstore, to sign their prints," he said.

There will be an artist signing prints on each level of the Bookstore, Ugolini said.

Greg Olson, Simon Dewey and Liz Lemon Swindle are the more famous artists that will be signing their pieces, but lesser-known artists such as Walter Rane, whose paintings are found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint magazines and newspaper, will also be here, he said.

All of the artists are members of the Church of Jesus Christ; however, Ugolini said his concern is not with an artist's religion, but with the quality and price of the art.

Each year he tries to get the best price possible on the art so he can pass it on to conference visitors.

"It is an opportunity for them to get a piece of spiritual art to take with them," Ugolini said. "If we can provide it for a better price, why not?"

Saturday is usually the busiest day for buying art but the other two days are busy with people browsing, he said.

The book department, another area of the BYU Bookstore, has invited authors and musicians, such as Marie Osmond, who will be signing her book in the Bookstore Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

It also has bonus activities and give-aways during the conference, said Linda Brummett, BYU Bookstore general book manager.

"We've made a Women's Conference magnet that the ladies can take home," Brummett said. "We've created a tradition where they have become collectibles."

But year after year, the most sought-after treasure continues to be the book on the previous year's Women's Conference talks, she said.

"We sell thousands and thousands and thousands of the previous year's talks," Brummett said. "Nothing has ever come close."

It is just nice to have a reminder of what was taught the year before, she said.

Extended bookstore hours and an extra facility will allow more shopping convenience for the visiting women.

Today the Bookstore will close at 10 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at the normally scheduled time of 6 p.m., she said.

A tent south of the Marriott Center will sell women's conference-related items today and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.



Copyright Brigham Young University 1 May 2002