In fact, buying pre-loved books proved so popular that the biannual Lifeline Big Book Fair event raised a record amount of money over the weekend.

The organisation eclipsed its previous record of $131,420 by raising $135,986 from Friday to Sunday.

Mr Gould said more than 5000 people passed through the doors of the Berkeley Sports Stadium to pick up titles covering everything from travel and fiction to books on hobbies.

The book fair is the major fundraising event for Lifeline South Coast. Funds raised go towards Lifeline services including the 24-hour telephone crisis support service.

"It's really important for us to be able to be very confident that we can provide these services into the future," he said.

"We do love being involved in the community and engaging with the community and it's our biggest community engagement event.

"It gives people the opportunity to show their support for Lifeline and contribute to suicide prevention.

"'When we ask people why they come to the fair they say they want to be part of reducing suicide and it's a way to express that in a tangible way, coming here and donating a book, buying a book or volunteering."

One of the highlights of this year's fair was the $70 sale of a copy of Endure and Fight: A detailed history of the 4th Light Horse Regiment, AIF, 1914-1919.

Only 513 copies of David Holloway's book were published, and Lifeline South Coast was given copy number 466 for its fair.

"It sold straight away on the Friday," Mr Gould said. "Someone came in specifically for that book and bought it first up."