The Journal of Joseph Banks in the Endeavour - with commentary from AM Lysaght plus a forward and signature of Prince Phillip - is part of a selection of special gems available at the Lifeline Book Fair at the Illawarra Sports Stadium.

"There's about 60 special books going to be at the event and they're priced between $100 and $1000," said Renee Green, CEO Lifeline South Coast.

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Other titles include a first edition of Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzaki and an eight-volume set of The Modern Carpenter Joiner and Cabinetmaker.

More than 80,000 books in total will be laid out for sale (most available for loose change), in the not-for-profit's biggest biannual fundraising drive.

Each have been cleaned, sorted and categorised into 50 topics, and priced ready for sale.

Patrons will be allowed to fondle the titles before buying, however, they are being asked to sanitise hands on entry and exit as well as wearing a face mask to the fair.

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Mrs Green said under COVID-safe regulations they were allowed to have up to 500 people inside the stadium at any one time, while numbers would be monitored.

For book lovers wanting to avoid the crowds, she said typically Saturday afternoons were the most quiet for the fair.

The is the Illawarra's first book fair of the year, as the March event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

However, book donations have continued around the region over the past few months, with Wollongong Central shopping centre now named as a drop-off point.

"The motivation was the opportunity to support Lifeline for their important work in providing support to people in crisis or at risk of suicide," said Jasmin North, Centre Manager of Wollongong Central.

Not only will funds raised go towards the crisis telephone line, by Mrs Green said it would also assist outreach programs they are running.

"We have been providing some additional support to the Kiama community in response to some recent suicides there," she said.

"It's also supporting some services and programs we're doing in bushfire impacted communities on the South Coast - in particular as they come up to that one year anniversary mark."

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People can drop off books at Lifeline Shops, the Lifeline book depot at Unanderra, or at Woollongong Central customer service desk up until 9pm on Thursday October 22.

Books will then be transported to the Illawarra Sports Stadium at Berkeley for the Fair which runs from October 23-25.

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