The last fair achieved record sales of $131,000, which was invested in programs including Lifeline South Coast’s 24-hour crisis hotline and other charities.

Lifeline South Coast executive director Grahame Gould said locally raised funds stayed in the community to support vital services.

‘‘We receive 17,000 calls annually and we had a 25 per cent increase in the week after Robin Williams died; this shows that people are affected by this issue in the local community,’’ he said. The book fair’s reputation has grown after an initially rocky start.

‘‘We got the formula right after a while and now we have nearly 200 people lining up outside the door before we open every fair,’’ he said. 

For the first time, the fair will host Paint the Gong REaD, a program encouraging literacy skills in children.

‘‘Kids who read books do well in school and the fair is a place for parents to bring their children to encourage a love of books,’’ Mr Gould said.

The fair will run from Friday to Sunday at Illawarra Sports Stadium, Berkeley. Doors open at 9am.