The Rotary Club of Tauranga book fair has been a blessing for worthwhile Tauranga groups and projects for about 33 years.
In that time the Rotary Club has distributed more than $1 million - that probably means the sale of a commensurate number of books, records, CDs, DVDs, jigsaws and magazines.
'Too hard to calculate,” says veteran Rotary book fair co-ordinator Ann Pritchard. 'But certainly many, many thousands.”
And the heat is on again. The club is just five weeks out from another Rotary Book Sale at the Seeka Coolstore in Harvard Way opposite Classic Flyers in Mount Maunganui on March 6, 7 and 8. And it's appealing for more books.
'Anything,” says Ann. 'Fiction sells well, good quality fiction. Books like Lee Child and his Jack Reacher novels.” So if there's an unwanted ‘Blue Moon', ‘Killing Floor' or ‘Past Tense' on the bed side table, drop it off for Rotary.
It's receiving books for its Book Sale at Caltex gas stations in Welcome Bay, Bayfair, Katikati and Greerton. Also at Z Energy in 11th Avenue, Bethlehem, Hewletts Road and Brookfield.
Other drop off points are Challenge Service Station in Omokoroa, Crockfords Real Estate in Cherrywood, Wet and Forget in Chapel Street, 20 Ririnui Place in Maungatapu, Phillips Garage in Fraser Street, Farmlands in Te Puna, Stash-it Papamoa and the Lakes Clinic.
'Jigsaw puzzles sell well each year, as does the music,” says Ann.
To have contributions collected call Ross Prestidge on: 544 0817 or Ann on: 543 5350.
There's a novelty addition to the 33rd Rotary Book Sale.
It's a treasures auction on the Sunday afternoon at 1pm. 'Art, paintings and drawings,” says Ann. 'And collectibles – items valued and sought by collectors.” Rotary had a similar sale at the club recently and it worked well.
The whole dynamic of the Book Sale appeals to this co-ordinator. Despite organising a team of up to 42 volunteers to process tens of thousands of books, Ann Pritchard still enjoys a good read – one or two non-fiction books a week. 'I love books,” she says. At the moment she is ploughing through a tome on roguish former US president George W. Bush.
The Rotary Club of Tauranga Book Sale is open on Friday March 6 from 3pm to 8pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 4.30pm.