Dannevirke: Book sale set to be the biggest ever

Dannevirke's Philip Christison begins unloading 500 cartons of books outside the Town Hall for the annual book sale at the end of July. Photo / Christine McKay

The tens of thousands of books stored beneath Dannevirke's Town Hall could hold the stately building up without the need for foundations, but come the end of July they'll be gone, hunted out by bookworms at the Lions annual sale.

And if the thousands of books under the town hall aren't enough, Dannevirke Lions roared into Palmerston North on the Monday of Queen's Birthday Weekend to load up 500 cartons of books, surplus from the book sale there.

More than 15,000 books which were surplus from Palmerston North's book sale have joined tens of thousands of others for the Dannevirke Lions book sale.

"This year's sale in Dannevirke will be bigger than last year, which was our most successful," Lions book sale convenor Barbara Ferguson told the Dannevirke News. "Those 500 cartons of books from Palmerston North add up to around 15,000 and heaven only knows how many we've got here already.

"My book sorters will be busy every Monday and Tuesday from now until the Dannevirke sale at the end of July, sorting these latest volumes. The people of Dannevirke have been as generous as ever, with donated books being left at the Information Centre every day as well."

While there are books of all genres, one title had Lions Club members scratching their heads as they unloaded Philip Christison's truck on Queen's Birthday weekend.

"What on earth do you do with a book called Lullabies for Little Criminals?" Lions member Debbie Webster asked.

The Dannevirke Lions book sale opens on Friday, July 24, at the Town Hall and closes at 3pm on Sunday, July 26.

On Thursday, July 23, the sale will be open for children and their caregivers for their own special browsing time.

"Last year's inaugural children's book sale prior to the main sale was amazing," Mrs Ferguson said. "Each child went away with a free book of their own choice and we're happy to repeat this again this year.

"We're also looking forward to welcoming readers, some who attended the first sale in 1989, back to the town hall and I'm sure those attending for the first time will be thrilled with the selection of quality fiction and non-fiction, magazines, DVDs, jigsaws and games."