With more than 200,000 books ready for a new home, visitors to the UQ Alumni Book Fair are not going to walk away empty handed.
Held at the UQ Centre, from Saturday April 25 – Wednesday April 29, the biennial event is expected to attract thousands of book lovers from across south-east Queensland.
A Rare Book Auction will again welcome proceedings on Friday, April 24 at 6:30pm.
President Feona Walker said about 150 books were up for sale at the auction, with bidders from all over Australia.
“At the auction itself we do get friendly competition which gives us some very good prices at times,” Ms Walker said.
In 2007, the two events raised more than $140,000 for the Alumni Friends of The University of Queensland Inc, which has given more than $6 million to community projects ranging from providing electric scooters for the disabled, to supporting the Fryer Library, the University Art Gallery and student scholarships.
About 110 volunteers will help at the fair, with books ranging from 50 cents to about $50.
Ms Walker said the event was Brisbane’s original Book Fair, with all books sorted into categories and then priced and packed by experts.
“We have books on subjects not usually found at other book sales. On the last day we always have a box day when buyers can get a box of books for between $12 and $15,” she said.
“People continue to go to book sales because a computer cannot compete with the feel, the look or the portability of a book.
“There is a quote ‘A book lover never goes to bed lonely’ – can you imagine the same being said of a computer? And most older books can only be found in book form still.”
The fair runs from Saturday April 25 - Wednesday April 29, between 11am and 5pm (opening at noon on Anzac Day). The Rare Book Auction will take place on Friday April 24 at The Playhouse, The Women’s College, Sir William Macgregor Drive, St Lucia, Brisbane.
Those wanting to volunteer time or donate books are welcome to contact Ms Walker on 07 3365 2263.
For further information, visit the association’s website at: http://www.uq.edu.au/alumni/
Media: Feona Walker (0408 150 145) or Eliza Plant at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619, e.plant@uq.edu.au).
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