With is less than 24 hours to go until the Rotary Club of Ōamaru’s annual Bookarama, things are “wonderfully frantic”.

Chief organiser Janet Wallace says they have “thousands” of books and are grateful for the donations received.

“It's the biggest year we've had.”

Last year about $50,000 was raised but they did not have a target for this year, she says.

“We don't set ourselves any goal, we’re just having fun.”

Volunteer Jacquie Webby is grateful to all involved in the Bookarama, including the people buying the books

There are stacks of puzzles, which people can purchase up to four of at once, she says.

Ele Ludemann, who has been the organiser in previous years, says there is a “huge” science fiction and fantasy section as well as children’s books.

“There's not much that you wouldn't find.”

One of the interesting donations, which will be on the table of special individually-priced books, is a pop-up book from the Queen’s coronation in 1953.

The profits from Bookarama are used to benefit the North Otago community.

Previously, money raised has gone towards funding the new Waitaki Event Centre, a chemotherapy chair at the hospital, and to help students attend courses and tertiary education.

The leftover books will either be on-sold, or kept for next year’s Bookarama.

Both cash and Eftpos will be accepted, and people are encouraged to bring their own bags.

Books start at $2, and puzzles, games, DVDs, magazines and CDs will also be sold.

Bookarama begins tomorrow (Friday, May 10) at 145 Thames Street (the former Noel Leeming building) from 10am to 8pm, then runs from 10am to 5pm, until next Sunday (May 19), when it is open 10am to 1pm.