You’ll need clear tote bags at Tucson Festival of Books next weekend

Abra McAndrew, executive director of TFOB, one of the largest nonprofit book festivals in the country, said the new policy comes at the request of its partner, the University of Arizona, which hosts the event on campus each year. All areas marked orange on an interactive map the festival has posted on its website are covered by the new clear-bag policy at the March 14-15 events.  

“This is a policy that is similar to what they do for other ceremonial events, major arts events at Centennial Hall, and their sporting events and things at the stadium,” McAndrew said.

UA Chief Safety Officer Steve Patterson wrote to the Star that: “The Office of Public Safety implements clear bag requirements at large campus events, including performances at Centennial Hall, Commencement ceremonies and athletic games. The Tucson Festival of Books is one of the events where these guidelines help enhance safety while maintaining efficient entry for attendees.”

According to the UA’s website, bags allowed at the event will include ones that are clear plastic or vinyl and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12,” as well as one-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bags or similar).

Prohibited bags will include: small clutch bags, purses bigger than a clutch, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, diaper bags, cinch bags, luggage, long golf umbrellas, cooler bags, computer bags and camera bags. Prohibited bags are also not to be placed inside clear bags.

“Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection, including but not limited to oxygen tanks, diabetes kits, allergy pens, etc.,” the website says. “Souvenir cups, unopened water, baby formula/bottles, Kleenex and personal items will all be permitted into the arena if carried in one (clear) bag.”

The festival will work with A-Team Security and Event Services, a security guard service that UA uses at other events as well. The security guards will be at the venues where the policy will be in effect, McAndrew said.

McAndrew said “the university mall is a public space and the clear-bag policy doesn’t apply the same way there, although we encourage people to carry clear bags where they’re able to, but inside the venues for the author panels, that’s where the policy will be in effect.”

“Anyone who’s attending the festival, they can use the map that’s going to be in the guide that’s published on Sunday (in a special section in the March 8 Arizona Daily Star, a festival co-sponsor) or in our app offered by the Tucson Festival of Books,” McAndrew said.

“Or on our website, the University of Arizona has provided an interactive map so that’s where people can identify where the author presentations are taking place, and at the doors of those venues, they’ll be guided through the security process.”

C-SPAN, one of the festival’s media partners, has a booth every year at TFOB where it gives out free tote bags. This year, it will give out about 7,500 free clear bags instead, McAndrew said. They will be available at the C-SPAN booth or any of the information booths at the festival.

The UA Campus Store, which sells books featured at the festival, will be giving out thin, clear, disposable shopping bags when people purchase books, and will also be selling heavier, more durable clear bags for people to carry their own belongings, said Annette Johansen, a buyer for the store, and Ellen Dickinson, a trade book specialist there. 

The heavier clear bags will be like those the store sells for UA athletic events or Centennial Hall events, where the clear-bag policy is always observed, they said, and there have been extra shipments of those brought in for the festival. They also said the store has brought in about 30,000 more lightweight, disposable clear bags to give people with their book purchases.

McAndrew said the festival will also offer lockers on-site for people to store their belongings.

These lockers will be available at three locations on campus — between the Second Street Garage and the UA’s administration building; in front of the Henry Koffler building on the UA Mall; and in the children’s area southwest of the College of Education building.

A link to reserve a space in advance is available on the festival’s website, McAndrew said.

For attendees, this is “an invitation to slow down and be patient and continue to still attend the events, but the days of rushing around with three tote bags full of books and making sure never to miss any session — it just might take a little more planning,” said McAndrew.