When the doors opened at the Gore Showgrounds last Thursday at 3pm over 300 people were already lined up outside, ready to go in and snag a bundle.
The puzzle section, featuring over 500 different jigsaws and puzzles of all types, was cleaned out of almost 90% of the goods.
The almost 20,000 books available were flying off the shelves, convener John Falconer calling it a "very successful sale".
The funds raised will be heading to the Lions Clubs Cancer Trust, which is campaigning to build a second skin cancer-screening bus.
The bus is a free service where people can go and get a check-up. It travels around the country and visited Gore last month.
A second bus will allow both the North and South Island to have a full-time travelling service, as with only one bus the time is split between the two.
Mr Falconer said he was extremely happy with the result of last week’s sale.
"I appreciate the wonderful support that we’ve received from the book sale.
"We’re delighted to be able to tell those who have supported us we will be providing $20,000 to the Lions Skin Cancer Screening Bus," he said.
The amount of money raised over the weekend was consistent with past years, and the continuously good support was "quite amazing", Mr Falconer said.
"Considering the changes which have taken place in society, the value of books is still received very well. There are still so many avid readers.
"We’re particularly delighted with the support we get from the children’s sections. It’s good to see all the children so interested in so many books," he said.
Mr Falconer said the sale, which is the main fundraiser for the Pakeke Lions, was always popular and next year was already booked in.
"It’s been a great pleasure to have the support of Gore residents, and the surrounding districts, for our annual event, and we look very much forward to it happening again.
"It’s just delightful, all the support from the people of Gore. We’re so pleased that books are still a very favourite item for many people," he said.
