Thousands of bargain books up for grabs at Friends of Libraries book fair

THOUSANDS of pre-loved books will be on sale at this year’s Friends of Libraries Byron Shire Book Fair at the Byron Bay Surf Life Saving Club this weekend, with children’s books priced at $1 and all other books at $3.

Friends of Libraries Byron Shire president Catherine White said the books, donated by members of the community, cover a wide range of interests including history, travel, cooking and gardening.

Volunteers carefully sort the donations and aim to ensure the fiction titles offered for sale are less than 10 years old.

Friends of Libraries Byron Shire is a not-for-profit community group affiliated with Friends of Libraries Australia. The organisation supports the Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads libraries through fundraising, advocacy and literary events.

Funds raised at last year’s book fair helped purchase Story Time chairs, support a Solli Raphael poetry workshop for school students at Brunswick Heads Library, and buy “Quick Reads” and “Borrow Now” books for all three libraries.

The proceeds have also funded craft sessions and creative drawing workshops during school holidays, as well as an author event for school students scheduled for later this year.

White said volunteers had been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community in donating books for the annual event.

“We have three storage sheds full of books in the industrial estate,” she said.

“It’s a reflection of the value that our local community places on books and reading.”

Visitors can also enter a raffle featuring prizes donated by local businesses, including Beach Hotel Byron Bay, M.V. Jasmine at Brunswick Heads, Byron Bay Golf Club, Three Blue Ducks, Stone & Wood Brewery, Palace Cinemas, Bay Grocer, GoSea Kayak Byron Bay, Brunswick Picture House and Byron Bay Cookie Company.

The Friends of Libraries Book Fair is at Byron Bay Surf Club from 9am to 4pm from Friday 10 July to Monday 13 July.