REGINA — Every book has a story. Some have travelled from bedside tables and family bookshelves, others have sat quietly in basements, garages and spare rooms waiting for a second chance to be read.
This month, tens of thousands of those stories will find new life as the Seniors' University Group prepares to host Regina's premier used-book event, the Big Book Sale, at the Highland Curling Club.
Running June 17 to 20, the annual fundraiser has become one of the city's most beloved traditions, drawing readers, collectors, bargain hunters and lifelong learners from across Regina and beyond.
What began in 2007 with a handful of tables outside the Lifelong Learning Centre has grown into a massive 15,000-square-foot event powered by more than 160 volunteers, most of them seniors.
Today, it is about far more than books.
Every purchase supports affordable lifelong learning opportunities through the Seniors' University Group, a volunteer-run organization that offers educational programs, short courses, tours and learning experiences for older adults.
Before the first shopper walks through the doors, however, organizers are focused on collecting donations from the community.
"The people that have those books in their basement or garages that would like to donate them to a good cause, we're available and we are accepting books until June 11,” said co-chair Susan Holmes.
Donations can be dropped off weekdays at the Highland Curling Club on Broad Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Wednesday an Friday and between 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday.
Organizers are looking for fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, young adult titles, graphic novels, comic books, CDs, LPs, DVDs, games, puzzles and sheet music.
The variety is part of what has made the sale such a success.
“You'll just be able to go and browse those rows and see what's there,” Holmes said of the new mystery section. “Or romance or western fiction, popular authors. We have a whole section set aside to very specific authors and then just general fiction and general knowledge.”
While almost anything in good condition is welcome, organizers do ask donors to be selective.
“We ask you not to bring books that have gotten wet or been in some musty situation because we're selling books to the public to put into their homes,” Holmes said.
Magazines, VHS tapes, encyclopedias, textbooks and outdated manuals are not accepted.
“They take up a lot of space and basically, if the material gets dated, nobody really wants it,” Holmes said.
The Big Book Sale's impact extends well beyond the four-day event.
Once shoppers have made their selections and the final purchases have been rung through, thousands of unsold items begin another chapter. Volunteers spend days sorting remaining inventory and distributing books and materials to more than 20 community organizations. Over the years, donations have reached schools, community groups, literacy initiatives and correctional facilities across Saskatchewan and beyond.
One of the largest recipients has been The Book Project Saskatchewan Jails, which received more than 20,000 items in 2022 alone.
It means very little goes to waste, and countless books continue finding new readers long after the sale ends.
For those books still waiting for a home, organizers have one final plan.
On June 22, the community will be invited back for a special free-book afternoon, giving residents the opportunity to take home remaining titles and help reduce volunteer cleanup efforts while extending the life of the books.
Behind it all is an army of volunteers. Their work transforms boxes of donated materials into one of Regina's largest community fundraisers and one of the city's most remarkable examples of recycling, education and volunteerism working together.
“Volunteering is a meaningful way to support lifelong learning programs for older adults,” Holmes said. “It's a chance to be part of a Regina tradition that keeps books circulating throughout the community and helps ensure they're enjoyed for years to come.”
