The Victoria Curling Club will be crammed today and Sunday with books as donors drop off thousands of volumes for the 18th annual Times Colonist Book Sale.
The treasure trove for literary-bargain hunters also depends on major behind-the-scenes organization and generosity.
Candace Lester, the TC’s book drive co-ordinator, sent out a call in February for the 300 volunteers required and reached capacity early on.
“Our volunteers are the most amazing, dedicated, hard-working people I’ve ever met,” she said. “It never ceases to amaze me that we even have people who plan their vacations around volunteering at the book drive.”
Since 2010, the curling club has provided its Quadra Street rink for the spring tradition, this year from April 14 to May 7. That allows time for set-up, donations, sorting, arrangement of books on 200 tables, the sale itself and post-sale invitation for teachers and non-profits to take what they like free of charge.
“They give us a good deal,” said Bruce Cousins, TC director of reader sales and services. “And they’re awesome to work with, and it’s a great location.”
Other assistance comes from the City of Victoria, which arranges to lend its tents for outside volunteers through Island Tents and Events, which puts them up; AMJ Campbell, which transports 200 tables, unpacks books and brings in donations from Alpine Recycling; Thrifty Foods for gift vouchers; and Fairway Markets for shopping carts.
Grocery and government liquor stores provide boxes for books. For volunteers, Canadian Springs provides bottled water, Serious Coffee the caffeine and Boston Pizza offers a deal on pizza.
TC staff donated countless plastic bags needed for sealed purchases of special books in a sectioned-off area known as The Cage.
“It’s a big job, but very rewarding to see it all come together,” said Lester, citing the joy on the faces of volunteers, shoppers and the recipients of literacy cheques.
Times Colonist book drop-off
• Where: Victoria Curling Club, 1952 Quadra St.
• When: Today and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day
• Wanted: Good quality books
• Not wanted: Encyclopedias, textbooks, magazines, outdated reference material, National Geographics, Reader’s Digests or microwave cookbooks
• Please: Bring books in boxes small enough to be hefted by volunteer. Remain in your vehicle while going through the drop-off — just pop the trunk.
• Book sale: Saturday and Sunday, May 2 and 3, at the Curling Club
