Book Fairs, Library Sales - Dates & Times

[judy-oz]

Let's continue the great thread from the 'old' boards and share information about Library Sales, Book Fairs

[sqaukibuf]

In March.

12-14 Uniting Care - Ballarat’s Biggest Book Fair (Vic)
Saturday 12th 10am – 4pm
Sunday 13th 12pm – 4pm
Monday 14th 10am – 3pm
St. Andrew’s Uniting Church Hall, cnr Dawson & Sturt Streets Ballarat
Entry by donation

[sqaukibuf]

One for Gippslanders, don't get many book  fairs here & it was a taxi driver told me about it today. Google found the one from last year, wish I'd known about it then. RACV magazine website had the info for this year, not the council though. Pfft.

Book Fair

12 Mar 2016 - 13 Mar 2016

Fundraiser for local and Lions Clubs’ international charities. Community Centre, Princes Hwy, Trafalgar.

12 Mar, 10am-4pm, 13 Mar, 9am-3pm.

[peteepie]

Review of Canberra book fair

12-14/2/16

Heaps of non-fiction

several tables of "nostalgia" fiction which was good

fair bit of fiction - quite a lot of large format p/backs; not a lot of hardcovers

seperate room with $10-$10,000 books - didn't go in

This fair is huge.  I made the mistake of going at ten on Friday morning and it was packed with people.  Really didn't enjoy it as I hate the whole dodging around people crowd thing.  Went again Saturday afternoon and it was quieter but still pretty busy.

They do a great job organising it considering the numbers.  Long (100m) queue to the checkouts on Friday but was done and dusted in about five minutes. Books were as priced, mainly $3, $4, $5.  Well laid out in categories and several popular authors had their own (quite large) sections.  Not a lot of (if any) new books on the Saturday; they seem to manage to lay out nearly all their books from the get go.  They had many pallets of jigsaws and games wrapped up on Friday, and noticed on Saturday that they had them laid out on tables that had been full of books previously.  

I would only go back if I was in Canberra for something else.  Too busy, and pricier than I like.  Also at least half the hall was non-fiction which doesn't interest me.

[misterforgetfulsbooks]

Which sale to go to?

Ballarat or Trafalgar

Wonder what the pricing is like and what the book numbers will be like?

[peteepie]

Ballarat do theirs twice a year in March and November. I went last November and it's quite big but can't remember the prices.

[betonybay]

HUGE SECONDHAND BOOK SALE - 22 & 23 April 2016 FRIDAY 22ND APRIL 2PM - 8PM SATURDAY 23 APRIL 9AM - 4 PM Cnr Reserve Road & Torquay Road, Grovedale (Geelong, Vic) Fundraising for Uniting Care & Grovedale Uniting Church All books laid out in categories and individually priced Free entry; All abilities access

[peteepie]

Ballarat was reasonable sized fair.

Gold coin entry fee.

Books-hardcover $3, paperback .50 cents to $2.

Put a lot of effort into putting the books in order...well known authors with 10 plus books grouped around the edge; the rest in alphabetical order down the middle.

Book quality variable with some library books.

[peteepie]

sorry I only found out about this one today.

Geelong Book Fair

12,13,14 March (yes, it's over)

Geelong West Rotary have doubled up on their August fair for the first time.  They must have a lot of books to get rid of because they also organised a fair in Torquay in January for the first time.  Came across both fairs late by accident...they really didn't advertise them like they do the August one.

Gold coin entry, and all books were $1.  Since I went late (1 1/2 hours before closing) they said at the door "$1 a book, $5 for a small box and $10 for a large box.  With half hour to go they announced $2 for any sized box.  I had a pretty big box and gave them ten 🙂

They pulled a similar late clearance trick at Torquay.

Books were all the usual suspects and barely sorted; I think this must have been a last minute job.  Heaps of fiction.  Quite a bit of non fiction.  A lot of ex library books.  Would have to say the physical quality of the books wasn't great; expect they are trying to get rid of stock that has been on the tables a few times to make room for new stuff in August.

[peteepie]

Book Fair Blog

Haven't had a chance to do anything about this yet, but still intend to in the near future.  Dropping my phone with all the dates I'd found so far into the ocean didn't help.

Have found a site...www.thebookguide.co.uk which is similar to what I envisage (without the ads) if anyone is interested.  The English  fairs seem to be more like a Clunes or "mountains of books" sort of set up, but the layhout of the site is very clean and easy to follow.  Particularly like their "find fairs" box.  If I can do something half as good as this site I'll be happy.  Reckon I'd set it up with the sections...Book Fairs (including library book sales)...Op Shops...Second hand book shops.

Any feedback welcome.

[sqaukibuf]

That site looks good Pete. From a quick look it seems like their book fairs have dealers selling books, rather than the charities etc running them to raise money. Not so many like that here. Yarragon did have dealers & valuers in the first 2 or 3 years, but not now. Latrobe City library book sale had a valuer for a couple of years, but not last year. I'm glad Gippsland has another book fair with Trafalgar having one. I got some nice goodies there last Saturday, saw mrforgetfulbooks there too.