THE future of the Lions Community Bookshop in Queanbeyan is secure despite being told time’s up at its shopfront home on Monaro Street. 

“The Queanbeyan Council has offered us what used to be called the Treehouse in Queanbeyan Park,” says secretary Karen Abbott.

“It has been an empty cottage for about five years now, so we have also accepted an offer of $30,000 in NSW state grants to renovate.”

“We are so grateful to the Leagues Club. They’ve allowed us to be here for four and a half years at peppercorn rent, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to do what we do.”

The site is to be redeveloped.

Karen says it’s a relief to know they have a place to go, but admits there may be a period of closure.

“In the meantime, we have a half-price sale on all books, and the last few weeks have seen that go really well,” she says.

“There has been a lot of community support, telling us they don’t want us to close. It’s been lovely having that support and reinforcement through some unsure times.”

While Karen admits it is sad to be leaving their current premises, the new location will give them a chance to expand.

“It really does provide other opportunities to do other things with, not just the books, but the community,” she says.

Volunteers will have to pack up around 5000 before the move.

“We’re closing for trading here on April 1, but there’s a few things that need to be done before we can move into the new place,” says Karen.

“There’s some holes in the roof, some patching work to be done, and the electrical and plumbing have to be checked to make sure they’re all safe.

“The whole place has to be completely painted, the garden needs some attention, but that will come. It doesn’t need doing before the move.”

Karen says it’s not a huge amount of work, but it will take time to find the tradies and to complete.

“Hopefully, a start will be made soon, during April, with a shutdown period including the work being done and then the book unpacking and setting up,” she says.

“We appreciate the council allowing us to move into those premises, and Nichole Overall, the member for Monaro, has been very helpful in getting the grant through the NSW state government.

Karen says all the books are donated, and all the money raised goes back to the community.

“Most of the books are $1 or $2, some are a little dearer. We’ve raised $150,000 and that’s all gone back to the Queanbeyan community,” she says.