TIMES COLONIST BOOK DROP-OFF TODAY
9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Victoria Curling Club, 1952 Quadra St.
The Times Colonist book sale, which attracts thousands of bibliophiles each year, starts with generous donations — and Saturday was another banner drop-off day.
The day brought a steady stream of donations, with a second day of drop-offs scheduled for today from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Victoria Curling Club, 1952 Quadra St.
“It looks like we have enough for a book sale,” quipped Bruce Cousins, the director of reader sales and service for the Times Colonist, as he looked over a sea of books collected on Saturday.
This is the 21st annual book drive.
All money raised during the sale — scheduled for Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day — goes to education and literacy projects on Vancouver Island.
Last year’s sale also triggered a $127,000 contribution from the provincial government via Decoda Literacy Solutions. That contribution allowed the Times Colonist Literacy Society to distribute $308,000 to 152 recipients, most of which were schools, this year.
Cousins estimated that the Times Colonist book sale received even more books during Saturday’s drop off than last year.
“We have books everywhere,” Cousins said. “The only thing is we are running really low on is pallets.”
Cousins encouraged people with pallets to drop them off this morning at the Curling Club for use in storing books before they are sorted for the sale..
Volunteers from all walks, including the Victoria Literacy Connection, worked doggedly through the day hauling books out of vehicles and stacking the boxes they came in.
Among the group, Cousins applauded the 2483 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Royal Canadian Army Cadets led by commanding officer Capt. Madeleine Dahl for their contribution.