Sale patrons early to book their places

"All aboard!"

That was what Waitaki district councillor Jim Hopkins said as he welcomed about 100 people out of the morning cold and on to the "bookarama express" yesterday morning.

They were all gathered to get their hands on secondhand books from the Rotary Club of Oamaru’s Bookarama.

Convener Ele Ludemann said when she arrived at 9am, to set up for the event’s 10am opening, people were already lined up outside.

Lyn Drummond queued at 9.30am, after driving from Herbert, 20km south of Oamaru, to pick up some jigsaw puzzles.

They were such a hot commodity that patrons were allowed to buy only five puzzles at a time.

Lyn Drummond is one of many people lined up outside before the doors opened for this year’s...
Lyn Drummond is one of many people lined up outside before the doors opened for this year’s Rotary Club of Oamaru Bookarama. PHOTO: RUBY HEYWARD
But, as was the case for most people, Ms Drummond said once the puzzles were solved, she would lend them to other people.

Reusing went hand-in-hand for bookarama, and many of the donated books had pricing on them from its previous years.

Mrs Ludemann said it was not uncommon for people to provide books and come back to replenish their collections.

She said the public were very generous with their donations, making the event a great team effort between the community and Rotary.

"We counted up to a zillion books then gave up counting," she said.

The money raised from the book sales would go to various community projects, but exactly which projects was yet to be determined, she said.

In previous years, funds have gone towards Oamaru Hospital’s chemotherapy chairs and to the Oamaru Kindergarten Association’s new van.

The event would finish on May 30, at 1pm.

ruby.heyward@odt.co.nz


 

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