Twice a year, the Rotary Club of Nanaimo fills Nanaimo North Town Centre with books, volunteers, conversations, and plenty of people searching for their next great read.
The Rotary Book Sale is the only way our club raises funds. Every purchase helps us support local organizations, community initiatives, and people doing important work in Nanaimo and abroad.
It is the event we are best known for, and one we are proud to share with the entire community.
Come Find Your Next Great Read
Whether you are looking for fiction, history, cookbooks, children’s books, mysteries, biographies, or something unexpected, there is always plenty to explore.
The sale offers thousands of donated books at affordable prices ($3 and under!), making it easy to stock your shelves, discover new authors, or find a few surprises along the way.
Next Sale
📅 Sept 25 - Oct 4, 2026
📍 Nanaimo North Town Centre
⏰ Sept 25 and 26: 8 am - 6 pm; Sept 27: 9 am - 5 pm
Sept 28 - Oct 3: 9 am - 6 pm; Oct 4: 11 am - 5 pm
We prefer cash or debit. Visa and Mastercard also accepted.
Generously Hosted by Nanaimo North Town Centre
The Rotary Book Sale is made possible by the generous support of Nanaimo North Town Centre, our community partner and longtime host.
While you’re visiting the sale, we encourage you to explore and support the shops, services, and businesses throughout the Centre.
Your Books Can Do More
The books you have finished enjoying can help support the community.
We welcome donations of gently used books throughout the year. Donated books are sorted and prepared by volunteers before being offered at one of our semi-annual sales.
Your donation helps keep books in circulation, gives readers access to affordable choices, and supports the work of the Rotary Club of Nanaimo.
Book Donation Location
📍 Nanaimo North Town Centre, across from London Drugs
⏰ Accessible during mall operating hours >>>
Please note that this is the only drop off location for books for the sale.
Other drop off locations in Nanaimo are not related to our Rotary Club’s book sale.
If you have a large donation, you can reach out to us to organize your drop off or simply leave the books in boxes beside our bins.
What We Accept
We welcome clean, gently used books that are in good condition and ready for another reader.
Fan favourites at each book sale include Science Fiction, Children & Young Reader, Cookbooks, History, and Biography. However, we sell books from all categories as our customers have varied interests and come looking for new things to explore.
We are unable to accept books that are damaged, mouldy, heavily marked, or no longer suitable for resale. We do not accept textbooks, magazines, outdated reference books, or other books that cannot be sold.
Volunteer With Us
You do not need to be a Rotary member to volunteer at the book sale. Members of the public are welcome to help with sorting, setup, organizing tables, and supporting shoppers during sale days. It is a great way to meet people, contribute to a well-loved local event, and be part of something that benefits the community.
Some volunteers come for one shift. Others return sale after sale because they enjoy the energy, teamwork, and camaraderie. Shifts are typically 2-hours in duration. We post the sign up list about 4 weeks prior to each sale on our website and share it with our community through our Facebook Group.
Where the Funds Go
The Rotary Book Sale is more than a place to buy books. It is what makes our community support possible.
Proceeds from the sale allow the Rotary Club of Nanaimo to provide grants and support local organizations and initiatives that make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. We also direct some of the funds to our international projects that are making a difference in health and education.
When you donate books, volunteer your time, or shop the sale, you are helping that work continue.
A Nanaimo Tradition
Started in 2007, the Book Sale has grown through the support of readers, donors, volunteers, and community partners who return year after year. We sell over 50,000 books at each sale and have put out as many as 125,000 books at some of our sales!
For some people, it is a chance to hunt for bargains. For others, it is an opportunity to clear their shelves, give their time, or reconnect with familiar faces.
Some of our customers come multiple times throughout the sale. Some travel from afar to pick from our massive selection of loved books.
For us, it is one of the clearest examples of what happens when a community comes together around a shared purpose.
“My favourite thing about the book sale is that I can spend a whole day looking for treasure and not spend a fortune. ”
- Rhonda, Book Sale Shopper
Plan Your Visit
Bring a bag, give yourself time to browse, and come prepared to
find more books than you planned.
📅 Sept 25 - Oct 4, 2026
⏰ Sept 25 and 26: 8 am - 6 pm; Sept 27: 9 am - 5 pm;
Sept 28 - Oct 3: 9 am - 6 pm; Oct 4: 11 am - 5 pm
📍 Nanaimo North Town Centre, 4750 Rutherford Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9T 4K6
We strongly prefer cash or debit. Visa and Mastercard are also accepted.
Interested in Volunteering?
Learn more about the different volunteer opportunities open to everyone.
Have a Question?
Looking for more information about book donations, volunteering, or the next sale?