Book bargains prove a hit

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Tags: fundraising, summer-2011

Book fair student volunteers Ai Cin Chng and Bich Bui

The popular UQ Alumni Book Fair has raised almost $100,000 including $15,000 from the signature rare book auction.

Approximately 150,000 books, magazines, CDs and sheets of music were available at the April event, which was held at the UQ Centre.

President of the Alumni Friends of the University of Queensland Inc. Patricia Jones said more than 40 volunteers pitched in to ensure the fair was a huge success.

“On the first day we had three cash registers and three EFTPOS machines running all day,” Ms Jones said.

Held every two years, the event aims to raise funds for student scholarships, University projects, and to bring alumni and members of the general public to the St Lucia campus.

The fair offers everything from art to zoology titles, with volunteers collecting and sorting titles for months in advance.

Bringing in the highest bid at the rare book auction this year was an atlas of engravings, which fetched an impressive $3000.

Ms Jones said donations were already being accepted for the 2013 fair, with spare titles welcome at the Alumni Friends office at 50 Walcott Street, St Lucia campus.

By Allison Rock

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