A Drive-In Of The Literary Kind

A Drive-In That’s Going To Have A Good Book To Go With It

It’s a drive-in of the literary kind.

Almost booked out: Rotary Club of Timaru South member Doug Lawrie (left) is Bookarama’s show-and-tell man, pricing and displaying books donated by the community for the annual event that raises in the order of $20,000 for local charities. He is being assisted by Bookarama convenor Cliff Robinson.

And that’s precisely want organisers of the Rotary Club of Timaru South’s major community fundraiser Bookarama are asking the public to do – new premises for this year’s event mean those dropping off their unwanted books can drive their cars right up to the display tables for easy offloading.

The old Mico Wakefield building in Butler Street, once a warehouse ringing with the clanging of aluminium and steel pipes has been transformed into a “silence of the tomes” as the week-long event prepares for opening on May 22.

For more than 16 years Bookarama has become an institution in Rotary fundraising for local charities.

And as in previous years this popular event, which consistently raises five-figure sums for distribution locally, is likely to see queues form ahead of a 9am opening when bargains will be had in all literary genres including literally thousands of books, magazines, comics and LPs.

Rotary Timaru South members’ thumbs are being worn down as they painstakingly collect, dust off, price and display a treasure trove of unwanted books.

But Bookarama convenor Cliff Robinson, a long-time Rotary member and Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, says more books are needed.

“Come and take advantage of the drive-in convenience,” he urged district residents.

“There’s good turning room for your car right inside the building.

“And we will even give you a hand to unload.”

He said any and all books were wanted.

Service stations throughout the region were again playing a part in the Bookarama effort, acting as drop-off points for books.

Mr Robinson said the motor trade help was deeply appreciated by Rotary and ensured the public was put to as little inconvenience as possible when donating books.

“There’s a service station near everyone if you cannot get downtown to the drive-in site.”

The annual event traditionally attracts wide support from the community and Mr Robinson’s helpers are putting in long hours ahead of opening next Saturday.

“Sure, it’s a lot of hard work and means long hours for members in the lead-up but it is so rewarding facilitating ways for the community to help themselves by donating and buying books and providing funds for Rotary’s worthwhile list of charities,” he said.

Those charities are numerous and the sums raised are large.

In a good year, a Rotary Club of Timaru South Bookarama can raise as much as $20,000 and charities to have benefited already include the South Canterbury Cancer Society, Davidson House and Ronald McDonald House, cancer residential facilities in Christchurch, and Timaru’s all-weather athletics track.

“We try to ensure the money is spread around,” Mr Robinson said.

He urged the public to attend and pick up a bargain read.

“In these tougher economic times, reading provides a really meaningful alternative to restaurants, pubs, and other sometimes more costly outings.”

And making sure the bargains are realistically priced and displayed so they will be noticed is local book valuer Doug Lawrie.

Mr Lawrie is the Rotary Club of Timaru South’s literary pricing expert and he is ensuring that truly rare and valuable donations are accorded the treatment they deserve.

He loves the quirky discoveries he makes while setting out the donations on trestles.

As a former national advertising manager and book producer for Whitcombe and Tombs, now Whitcoulls, he is well equipped to spot a $5000 book.

“Alas, none has presented so far, but who knows what’s out there. Bring your books down and we’ll see,” he said.

“Many people have books they would like to give to us but don’t because they think they are junk.

“Let us be the judge,” he said.

“What’s one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”

ENDS

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