Lions Club bookshop committee chairwoman Carol McMillan said only 40 per cent of books sold at the trust's book sales, so a permanent store seemed sensible. Photo / Paul Taylor
Lions Club bookshop committee chairwoman Carol McMillan said only 40 per cent of books sold at the trust's book sales, so a permanent store seemed sensible. Photo / Paul Taylor
Bookworms will have a new spot to explore following the opening of a permanent Lions Club bookshop in Hastings.
The charitable trust's new second-hand store at the Showgrounds Hawke's Bay Tomoana will open to the public at 10am on Friday.
Lions Club bookshop committee chairwoman Carol McMillan said with only40 per cent of books sold at the trust's renowned book sales, a permanent alternative seemed like a novel idea.
"We started to think about how else we can use the books left over and make more money from the books we already have," she said.
"We usually use the showgrounds hall for our book sales, with the books usually covering about 600 tables. But we've had bins full of left over books."
McMillan said while many Lions Club's nationwide have stopped their book sales in recent years, the idea of a permanent store in Hawke's Bay was dreamt up after a similar venture was undertaken in Masterton.
"A bookshop in Masterton opened within the last year at a showgrounds, but this is the first in Hawke's Bay," she said.
"Looking for a space was one of the most difficult things, as there are not many low-cost properties around. We want as much money to go back into the community as possible."
Lions Club bookshop secretary Lynn Rogers and member Narelle de Freer. Photo / Paul Taylor
McMillan said the team of eight volunteers from the five Lions Club in Hawke's Bay have spent the past weeks tidying, painting and shelving books in preparation for the official opening.
The Lions began their book sales in 1987, with the first ever one making $1200.
Since then, between $30,000 and $40,000 is made each year, according to McMillan.
In 2020, the book sales in Hawke's Bay made $39,000, with close to $750,000 raised in total so far in Hawke's Bay in the trust's 33-year history.
"The money goes directly back into the community. The public know this, which is why they just keep on donating books."
The book shop will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday indefinitely.
