For ten days in April the Nanaimo Rotary Club set new records with its SEMI-ANNUAL GIANT USED BOOK SALE. The Club sold an incredible 48% (or about 51,000) out of its inventory of 107,000 books. This was the highest total sales for the Club’s spring sale and was only a little behind last fall’s all-time record.
The sales have come a long way since the first one which lasted just four days in the fall of 2007 and sold about 14,000 books. At that time the Club members had no idea of the future success of what has now become a semi-annual fixture in the local calendar, closely anticipated by residents of the city and surrounding areas. The Club has raised over $1million through its book sales and all of the funds have been used to support local projects in the community and overseas. Through the book sales the Club has been able to make major donations to Literacy Central Vancouver Island, schools in the Nanaimo District, Nanaimo Hospital Foundation, Travellers Lodge Eden Gardens, Nanaimo Hospice and the Child Development Centre. The Club has also been able to support many other local organisations with smaller donations as well as contributing to overseas projects in Ghana and Central America with leverage from the Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Club of Nanaimo was very fortunate to have had the support of the Nanaimo North Town Centre from the beginning. The mall donated heated space year round for sorting, storage and sales of books. They also helped with publicity. It was the mall that encouraged the Club to change from four day sales to ten days and to change to semi-annual sales.
The Nanaimo book sales relied entirely on volunteer labour. Volunteers were present every day of the year and spent about 900 work hours since the last sale collecting, sorting, classifying and storing books. Providing cashiers, bankers, coordinators and sorters during the sale itself required another 1,000 work hours. Clubs contemplating Book Sales should ask those already in “the business” for advice: it takes a lot of planning, attention to detail, dedicated volunteers and a good sponsor to make it all go right.
The book sales are a very effective Club Project because residents see the Club members in action. The most a customer can pay is $3 for a hard back book. They know it is all volunteer labour for a good cause and they get a really good deal.