This month marks a milestone for Te Puke-based Kiwicoast Lions, which will hold its 30th book fair over Matariki weekend.

The book fair is almost a year-round project that culminates in a three-day sale to raise money for various projects, charities and initiatives in the Te Puke district.

Always held in June, spokesperson Anne Cole said it’s nice that the sale could be held at the same time as Matariki celebrations on a long weekend.

Planning for the next fair begins almost as soon as the previous one is packed away and since the start of the year, members have been stacking and sorting books, DVDs, CDs jigsaws and magazines for this year’s fair.

Honorary member Nick de Hoog picked up the books from the Te Puke drop-off spots and did the heavy lifting during the book sorting.

Williamson Building and Construction and Williamson Kitchens and Joinery were the main sponsors of this year’s sale, and Trevelyan’s Pack and Cool had also come on board to help out.

Sports teams from Te Puke High School will help move the books into Te Puke Memorial Hall for the sale and will also help with pack down.

“They provide huge amounts of help with unloading all the books and loading whatever is left at the end,” says Anne, “and they do it for the community spirit.”

The fiction section of the sale is sorted in alphabetical order and there are also sections on a range of subjects as well as children’s books and a table of “special” books.

The book fair is on June 20-22 and is open on June 20 from 8am-6pm, June 21 from 9am-5pm and June 22 from 9am-3pm.