Geelong's biggest book pile? St Bernard's prepares for 15,000-title fair

Geelong’s biggest book pile? St Bernard’s prepares for 15,000-title fair

A year-long community collection effort has culminated in a haul of more than 15,000 titles, spanning everything from crime fiction to rare biographies, for this Sunday's parish event. Photo: supplied.

STAFF WRITER

A collection of more than 15,000 books will take over the Clairvaux School Hall this Sunday as the St Bernard’s Church annual book fair returns.

The event, which runs from 8am to 2pm on 17 May, has become a staple for Geelong bargain hunters.

Parishioners and locals have spent nearly a year amassing the haul, which covers everything from crime and sport to cooking and children’s literature.

Organisers are hoping to build on last year’s success – which saw 2,000 people through the doors – with a goal of raising $10,000 for the St Bernard’s Parish.

Beyond the rows of fiction and non-fiction, the fair will feature a major collection of jigsaw puzzles and DVDs, alongside a traditional cake stall stocked with home-baked goods.

Coordinator Peter Wills said the scale of the event is a testament to the community’s generosity.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the ongoing support from our community, whether it’s through book donations or coming along to the event,” he said.

“Each year the response grows stronger, and we’re excited to make this year’s sale our biggest and most successful yet.”

Clairvaux School Hall is at 45 Reynolds Road in Belmont.