Rotary

Charity

Book Fair

25-27 Sept
The Hamilton Rotary book fair is a Waikato institution. Each year, thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, records, magazines, jigsaws and games get recycled to raise funds for the community.  Traditionally, the book fair has been a three or four day mega-event at the Te Rapa racecourse, but 2020 needs to be different. We need to be smaller, better-spaced, online and easier to navigate.  This year we are introducing an evening opening, one-room operation with managed traffic flows, better sorting of fiction and online options for items of special or national interest.
 
The book fair will be held in the Centennial Lounge at the Te Rapa Racecourse, from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September provided that Hamilton is at Alert Level 1 or below.  The timetable is:
 
Friday 5.30pm - 8.30pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am-Noon
 
If the Fair cannot be held at this time because Hamilton is still at Alert Level 2, then a small-scale pop-up fair will be held under Level 2 protocols.  Details of this will be announced if the smaller event becomes necessary.
 
 
 

Working together to make the world better

Books online

 
The new normal is likely to be different from the old.  As well as an annual mega-fair, which draws buyers from far and wide and puts tens of thousands of books in front of thousands of buyers, we need to think in terms of new models which are safe and sustainable.  From June 2020, we will be offering selected items online, primarily items of specialist interest, regional significance and collectible status, online via Trade Me. Check out our listings at rototuna.rotary.
 
 

 

 

How to donate books etc

There are a number of drop-off points around Hamilton city, as well as in Morrinsville and Paeroa, where you can leave donations.  Some of our traditional drop-off points are not currently operational because of COVID-19 distancing and contact tracing requirements.
 
Drop-off points confirmed as currently available are Magic Fresh at Dinsdale Shopping Centre, New World Rototuna, Caltex Chartwell, Jim Wright Nissan opposite The Base in Te Rapa and Glenview Automotive.  As new drop-off points are confirmed, we will make announcements on our Facebook page. For larger lots, please call the Bookfair cellphone on 028 417 9040, and we will do our best to collect the items from you.
 

 

 

How to get involved

Each year, it takes more than 1,000 person/hours to screen, sort and price donations for the book fair. Of course it is fascinating to see the enormous range  of subjects that people have written books on, but there is also a learning curve in getting know what is popular, what is rare and what we have learnt from 15 years experience in running the book fair.
 
If you think becoming a Friend of Rotary, just to help out with the book fair, sounds like your thing, then call the Bookfair Co-ordinator on 028 417 9040.

Rotary in Rototuna

If you want to get really, really, really involved in the Rotary book fair, then consider joining Rotary in Rototuna.   Of course, the book fair is not the only thing we do. As a relatively new club we are still finding our way, but we pride ourselves on being a Rotary club like no other.  Last year, we helped run Meet the Candidates meetings for local council elections, assisted with Christmas in the Park and Balloons Over Waikato, raised $15,000 for community projects, supported the Lucy Foundation, Womens Refuge and Rototuna High School -- and had a heap of fun.  We slaughtered a few sacred Rotary cows in the process.  We meet twice a month (except during pandemics, when we meet weekly on Zoom, just because we can) and the cost of membership works out at about $12 per week, including a meal at each meeting.