Thousands of bargain books – and everything must go

The doors opened on the Narrabri Rotary Book Sale yesterday and potential customers began to flow in immediately.

Rotary prepares all year for the annual sale and the result is many thousands of books on the shelves and ready for readers.

Rotarian Bruce Pyke and Joan Pyke have been co-ordinating preparations for the big sale.

The venue this year is the shop once known as Tarngars, and latterly The Grayhound, on the corner of Maitland and Dewhurst Streets.

The gracious old building is a natural venue for the sale.

The use of the building, originally The Greyhound Hotel, a key part of Narrabri’s early history, has been donated by its owner Jocellin Jansson for the duration of the sale.

The book cases now filled with thousands of titles of all kinds, are actually original fittings from the era when the shop was Tarngar’s Store, a business with legendary status in Narrabri.

A rough estimate puts the number of books at about 7,000. However, more are welcome –  if people have books they would like to donate to the sale – just take them along to the venue.

The atmosphere of the building, with its original stained glass windows, lends itself to its current temporary role.

“We don’t know how long the book sale will run – but it will be weeks” said Bruce.

The sale won’t run out of books.

Rough estimates put the number at about 7,000.

However, more are welcome if people have books they would like to donate to the sale – just take them along to the sale venue.

Browsers who go along to check out the titles will find they spend much more time there than they anticipated – there are so many books to leaf through.

All monies raised by the sale will go towards Rotary projects.

The proceeds are usually substantial and this year will be no different.

The venue is the shop once known as Tarngars, on the corner of Maitland and Dewhurst Streets.

“We have every kind of book for every interest” said Joan Pyke.

Novels, many in almost new condition, in hardback and soft cover, by the world’s most popular modern authors, are alongside classics, Do It Yourself books, travel books, books on Australiana and world history, coffee table books, atlases, books on obscure topics – which, however unusual, will find buyers – children’s books and books which people will recall from decades ago are all there.

“And they will be priced to sell” said Bruce.

“We have culled many thousands, so we are confident the thousands remaining will be snapped up.

“But it is our aim that everything must go – we hope to see the entire stock of books go out the door in the next few weeks. When people see what we have here, we believe that target is very achievable.”

The Narrabri Rotary Book Sale will be open every day, including Saturday morning, from 9am.

“Be early for the pick of the stock” advise Bruce and Joan.