Book sale draws early buyers

EAGER book buyers Trevor Richards and Errol Carian thought nothing of an hour’s wait for the opening of the Feilding Public Library's 13th annual week-long sale on Monday as they prepared to add more publications to their personal collections.

Arriving outside the library a little more than an hour before the 10am start time, they were joined by about 50 other keen readers before the doors opened and the clearance of more than 4000 books began in earnest.

Mr Richards, of Rongotea, was on the lookout for World War I aviation titles, though naval histories were also on his shopping list, while Mr Carian, of Feilding, showed an eclectic taste with the American West and classical composers among his favourite subjects.

Children’s Librarian Jennie Hogan said there had been a steady demand for books on opening day, after the “big rush first thing”, with half the sales tables cleared and a total of about $3200 (similar to last year) realised.

“Many of the non-fiction titles went quickly, but buyers certainly showed interest in fiction and some more specialised publications,” she said.

The biggest purchase of the day involved a $75 book from New Zealand bush artist Ray Hammond, one of a number of prestigious New Zealand publications that had been donated to the library for sale. 

Mrs Hogan said children’s books also attracted their share of supporters, with a number of families visiting after school to make their selections.

Few books are likely to remain by the end of the week, with left-over stock selling at $1 for four tomorrow and free on Saturday.

New stock is purchased from the money raised, with last year’s sale yielding more than $6000.