IT’S over the halfway mark for the annual six week Anglican Book Fair, with books ‘literally’ marching in and out the door in bundles.
Volunteers from the Hamilton branch of the Anglican Church Mothers’ Union have been run off their feet since the sale opened over three weeks ago.
“We’ve already raised over $11,500 Mothers’ Union president,” Sue Mason said.
“It’s been as popular as ever - we have a lot of new and repeat customers.
“And of course, the community has been incredibly generous again with their donations of good quality books.”
Mrs Mason said as usual there had been a wide variety of books donated for the sale.
“Novels set in Australia are really popular,” she said.
“Recently I spent a day going through 150 donated books dated from 2018-2024, all modern good quality novels.
“Local history books go really quickly - it’s really interesting to see what people give away and what people buy.
“Someone bought over $100 worth of small romance novels.”
Volunteers remain busy sorting and pricing quickly so the books can be put out on the tables to be sold.
Mrs Mason said just as many young people were coming in to buy a book on sale as last year.
“It’s very popular with young people,” she said.
“But it’s popular right across the spectrum, from little kids to people with prams, teenagers, historians, seniors, they’re all happy.
“They all know books come in and go out every day so they need to pop in as often as they can to get that bargain or that special find they’ve been looking for, for years.
“We are still keen to accept more donations, but they must be good quality second hand novels.”
The book fair is operating out of the two vacant shops, immediately to the right at the top of the travellators in the Hub, next to Lincraft.
Money raised traditionally goes to three organisations, one third each to a local, national, and international organisation.
The book fair will run for six weeks in total and is open 10am-5pm weekdays and Saturdays, from 9am-12.30pm, finishing on Wednesday, March 27, before Easter.
