Community News

A record book sale, dominated by children

Theories that children have given up reading books were proved wrong if evidence from the Maclean Rotary Giant Book Sale last weekend are any guide. President of the Rotary Club, Leigh Barrington, said that as soon as the doors of the club opened at 9am, there was a concerted rush by dozens of children for the tables loaded with children’s books. Mr Barrington said that the Club has the policy of books for children –from toddlers to early teens – are free to the children, who are our future readers. As well as the many thousands of books for adults donated to the Club, there is always a large quantity of material for these younger reader. The sale, the first for 2016, proved to be the best so far in the sale’s 16 year history, with the final result yet to be calculated, estimates indicate a ten percent increase than the previous best. In recent months, the Club has had so many books donated that four sales will be held this year, as against three in earlier years. The next sale will be on Friday April 8 and Saturday April 9, with more sales scheduled for early July and early October. Mr Barrington said the sales are a team effort assisted by the Maclean Bowls Club and its caterers who make the dining room area available on both days. He said proceeds from all the sales are shared between the Clarence Regional Library Service and Rotary projects. One of the projects planned for the year is provision of additional lifesaving equipment at Brooms Head. Donations for future sales can be left at local libraries, or if there is quantity arrangements can be made for pick up.