The Annual Book Sale held in Bundaberg every year will enter a new era following a resolution at this week’s Council meeting.
For more than 10 years the Annual Book Sale has been a collaboration between Bundaberg Regional Library and the Rotary Club of East Bundaberg.
With East and West Bundaberg Rotary Clubs combining, the Rotary Club of Bundaberg Central approached Council to review the arrangements.
President of the new Rotary Club of Bundaberg Central, Dr Jon Joiner, said it was a great initiative that members were keen to see progress.
“The annual book sale has been going for over 10 years and has raised over $150,000 during this time,” Dr Joiner said.
“The share of Rotary’s proceeds has been spent on our community projects which include drought relief to farmers in our region, community water wells in Cambodia, homeless men’s backpacks and many other community projects.”
Council’s Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesman, Cr John Learmonth, said the proceeds had helped fund many library projects that benefit library patrons.
“The funds have gone towards our popular author visits, Spheros robots for digital literacy and after-school sessions, Osmo technology kits and picture book boxes to hold our picture book collection, to name a few,” Cr Learmonth said.
“We are pleased to be able to continue the Annual Book Sale with the newly formed Rotary Club of Bundaberg Central to benefit so many important projects.
“While many of the books are excess stock from the Library, we also welcome donations of books from the public, which can be dropped into the Bundaberg Regional Library in Woondooma Street.”
Council will enter a Deed of Assignment to reflect the change of Bundaberg East Rotary Club to the Bundaberg Central Rotary Club; and change the revenue split to 60-40, with 60 per cent of the funds raised going to the Rotary Club and 40 per cent going to Bundaberg Regional Libraries.
With COVID-19 restrictions easing, it’s hoped that a date can be set for this year’s Annual Book Sale soon.
“The newly merged Club of Bundaberg Central Rotary is enthusiastically looking forward to announcing a date as soon as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, to make it feasible hopefully in the next month or so,” Dr Joiner said.
