“We rely on the support of the community, and all the funds raised go back into the community,” the club’s immediate past president Charlie Blomfield said.

Rotary members have been setting up since Wednesday, unloading countless boxes of books, and began the mammoth task of sorting on Thursday.

Books were donated from all around the Bega Valley as well as Moruya.

Mr Blomfield said they had about 30,000 books – fiction and non-fiction – to offer.

At its previous sale in January, Rotary started with about the same number of books and had sold around half by the end of that fair.

Mr Blomfield said if people bring in a recyclable shopping bag this year they can fill it with books for $50.

The focus at the fair is now on quality - no magazines, encyclopaedias or stained books allowed.

There are a few CDs and DVDs available, but most of the products are – you got it – books.

Many organisations benefit from Rotary’s book fairs, and from the proceeds raised at January’s and last July’s fairs the club donated $1000 to SouthCare Helicopter, $1000 to the Volunteer Rescue Association, $500 to Tathra Nippers, as well as purchasing resources for the Rotary team who went to Timor Leste in May.

Rotary also recently donated $10,000 to the building of carers accommodation at the South East Regional Hospital.

This is just to name a few, Mr Blomfield said.

Bob Counahan replaced Mr Blomfield as president of Bega Rotary last week, and he will serve in that role for the next 12 months.

Mr Blomfield said he is still “heavily involved” in the club.

He also said people who are interested in Rotary should ask a Rotarian about the club during the book fair.

The Bega Rotary book fair will run on July 3-4 from 9am until 5pm, and on July 5 from 9am until 1pm.

It is held at the Bega Showground pavilion and is a gold coin entry.