Top reads to be found at book fair

TENS of thousands of books will be available for purchase during a one-day sale next month.

Ballarat’s Biggest Book Fair will be held on Saturday 6 June to raise funds for Uniting Ballarat’s Breezeway meals for the homeless, and Lifeline.

“There’s just so much for people to come in and have a look at,” volunteer Anita Hinton said.

“People are amazed at how well organised it is because we’ve got the novels alphabetically, and then we’ve got certain authors that are separate.

“There are lots of popular authors that have just got their own boxes so that people can quickly go to what their favorite author is.”

Hinton said the fair attracted a range of shoppers.

“We get people coming looking for the missing Agatha Christie or the missing Enid Blyton or whatever,” she said. “Dealers come in as well and buy for their shops for resale and things like that.

“And the kids come in and have a look at the books. We get all ages through.”

She said the fair satisfied particular needs.

“Some people have sold the Agatha Christies and then they’ve regretted it and come back looking to replace the set,” she said. “And we get people buying books just to fill up their bookcases.

“We had second-hand railway magazines one year, and one man bought the whole lot.”

Organised by Ballarat Central Uniting Church, the fair is being held at St Andrew’s Church Hall on the corner of Dawson and Sturt streets from 10am to 4pm.

Prices include $2 for soft covers and $3 for hard covers. Others are at marked prices.

Entry is by gold coin donation.