Thank you Salt Spring!
This year’s 9th Annual Books and Bling was a huge success. Nearly 2000 attendees came to the Farmers’ Institute this past weekend to check out the expansive display of more than 20,000 books as well as the beautiful showcase of jewelry for sale. The proceeds from this sale will go towards much needed literacy programs for children, youth, adults and seniors that would otherwise be difficult to offer.
The Books and Bling Planning Committee would like to thank the public for their generous donation of books and beautiful jewelry that make this sale possible, and for coming out and supporting this event. A special thank you to the hundreds of book volunteers who over a two week period assist with setting up, accepting donations of books (including months prior), sorting and categorizing, cashier and sale day activities and breaking down the event. To the Bling Team who over months and months accepted, cleaned, categorized, authenticated, priced and set up their beautiful jewelry displays – your contributions are so valued! This event would not be the same without the delicious food prepared by our catering team and the host of Salt Spring food merchants who donate food and beverages to feed our team of volunteers – Country Grocer, Thrifty’s, Embe, SS Coffee, SS Water, Sidney Bakery and Woodshed – thank you! To our media partners SS Exchange and the Gulf Island Driftwood – with a special thanks to Russ for helping us to move in and move out books – your support is invaluable!
A final thank you to the Salt Spring Rotary for your generous donation. And to Barry at the Farmers’ Institute for your help and support!
This event is truly a community endeavor from beginning to end. Thank you all for for another great year and we will see you in the Fall of 2025!
The Books & Bling Planning Committee
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Pre-Event Activities, Sale Day Highlights and a Chance to Win One of a Multitude of Prizes we’re Offering in a Monthly Draw!
Volunteer
We are looking for volunteers to assist with a wide variety of activities including receiving donations, sorting and
categorizing donated gently used books, floor assistants, greeters & more!
Please email our volunteer coordinator for more information.
Books accepted
- Fiction and Literature (all formats – hardcover, trade paperback, mass market paperback)
- Arts, Crafts, and Hobbies (including poetry, drama, music, entertainment, dance, TV, building, DIY, photography, fabric arts and more)
- Sciences, Environment, Nature, Wild Animals, and Biology
- Transportation and Geography
- History
- Adventure, Sports, and Games
- Biographies and Autobiographies
- Foreign Languages (fiction or non-fiction)
- Oldies and Specials in good condition
- Children’s and Young Adult
- Pets and Animals
- Cooking and food-related
- Gardening
Books accepted
Must have been produced within the last 5 years
- Travel
- Political Science, Current Events, Business
Books not accepted
- Books with missing pages
- Mouldy, dirty, or damaged books
- Textbooks or reference books
- Workbooks
- Dictionaries
- Bibles or other religious texts
- Magazines
- Reader’s Digest books
- Studies and reports
- Government publications
- Computer and technology books
About Books & Bling
The halls are filled with tables loaded with well-organized and lovingly curated fiction and non-fiction books, in categories ranging from art to travel with every beloved mystery and CanLit novel in between!
They’re a bargain –priced at just a few dollars, with most children’s books at or under a dollar. Exceptionally beautiful, valuable and antique volumes are professionally valued and displayed in a special section of the hall.
The bling is an eclectic collection of designer, vintage, and costume jewellery donated by Salt Spring Islanders. In the “Bling Room”, you will find necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and miscellaneous items such as cuff links. We also sell bags of beads.
There is something for everyone. Every year, we find that a certain item is in demand.
We work with artisans on the island to help us appraise the higher-end pieces and identify hallmarks and gemstones. Solving the intriguing riddle posed by the hallmarks stamped onto a piece of jewelry involves skill, experience, and a wealth of knowledge.
Our prices are reasonable, ranging from $2 to $200. At the center of the bling room is a table draped in black velvet. This is where you will find the designer items, the gold, and the silver.
