Wendy Poyzer enjoys seeing people walk away with the books she has collected.
By Rebecca Fraser
A LOVE of reading has inspired a Narre Warren South resident to share her passion for books with the community.
Wendy Poyzer has been running a community recycled books library from the Casey Central Shopping Centre in Narre Warren South for more than a year.
Local residents can come and donate books seven days a week at the Narre Warren Cranbourne Road shopping centre and can also peruse the bookshelf of donated novels and take some home for a read.
Books are also available, and can be donated, at the Uniting Church House in Coral Avenue, Hampton Park.
Ms Poyzer said the standard of some of the books was astounding.
“Some have not even been opened up,” she said.
The avid reader sorts the books into various genres such as children’s, romance, fiction and non-fiction.
She also holds a book sale every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm at the shopping centre and a monthly market in Hampton Park.
Ms Poyzer also takes part in a sewing group, which makes art smocks and library bags for the local community.
Funds from the book sales help fund the fabric needed for the smocks and Ms Poyzer said she got a great deal of satisfaction from both community projects.
“People do not have to bring them (books) back but if they do not like it they can just pop it back on the shelf.
“I have seen the same books come back about five times,” she said.
At the end of the year Ms Poyzer said they received quite a number of school textbooks which were all placed out on the shelves or sold in the book sales.
The vice president of the Narre Warren Lions Club said she had about 1000 donated books at home, and some of them would be sent overseas to missions or anywhere else where books were needed.
Ms Poyzer said she was also looking for places to store the books and encouraged anyone with spare storage space to contact her.
“I like to help the community and be involved,” she said.
“I get more satisfaction seeing people walk away with the books than they do. I like helping keep people interested in books and motivated to read.”
Small book donations can be placed in the bins but people with bigger collections can call Ms Poyzer on 8790 1405 to arrange a pick up time.
