They all had different reasons for coming, but they all came for the same thing.
The scent of pre-loved books and excitement was thick in the air as several hundred people queued yesterday moments before Dunedin's Star Regent Theatre 24 Hour Book Sale opened its doors.
As the clock struck noon, customers, some running, filled the aisles of the theatre, lugging bags, boxes, totes, and even suitcases.
Within minutes, book collector and owner of Auckland bookstore Hard to Find Books, Warwick Jordan (59), had a stack of books in hand.
He said he donated hundreds of books to the sale, although he considered it as more of a book swap.
Thirty minutes later, he had already filled six large bags to take home.
Kindle owner Briar Culverwell (11) was getting in early at lunchtime to look for books she could not get on her device.
"It's not the people I'm amazed by, it's how many books there are."
Volunteer Bruce Cromb (75), who said he would work the whole 24 hours of the book sale, attributed the event's popularity to the prospects of finding a different book "at an adequate price".
If people could not find something among the thousands of books available this year, there was always next year, he said.
There were already books lined up for the next sale.
"We've got about over 1000 boxes ready to be sorted."
- By Fisi-Bell Carrasco-Rex
