The UQ Alumni Book Fair will be back in 2027
UQ's beloved annual celebration of books is brought to you by Alumni Friends and our dedicated volunteers.
In 2026, over 10,000 people attended the book fair, raising over $240,000 for student scholarships and research at UQ.
We look forward to seeing you again in 2027.
Donating books
Donate to the UQ Alumni Book Fair
We welcome donations of most books, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, sheet music, posters and complete jigsaw puzzles.
For your safety, and the safety of our volunteers, please pack donations in the Baxter boxes provided or a box of a similar size, no more than 20kg. Please do not donate items in big 'moving' boxes, suitcases or other large containers.
We cannot accept:
- Magazines
- Academic journals
- Encyclopaedias (unless published before 1950)
- Reader's Digest
- Damaged, mouldy or water-affected items
Where to donate
St Lucia donation point: open 24 hours
The Book Shed, located in the car park behind Building 82E, Seddon West, St Lucia campus.
Long Pocket donation point: open during business hours
The Book Bunker at UQ’s Long Pocket Campus, 80 Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly (off Discovery Drive, opposite Kurrajong by the glasshouse and adjacent to the Banksia loading bay). Access is available during campus opening hours only.
Empty Baxter boxes are usually available at both locations.
Collection Service
If you have over 20 medium-sized boxes of books and live in Brisbane, the Book Group volunteers may be able to pick up your books. Book collections are currently paused due to volunteer capacity. To discuss a donation, please call the Alumni team on +61 7 3346 3166.
Thank you for supporting the UQ Alumni Book Fair.
Rare Book Auction
The Rare Book Auction is an opportunity for community members and collectors across the world to access rare books and other limited-edition items donated from private collections.
Funds raised from the Rare Book Auction go towards scholarships, bursaries and research grants to help further the education of students at UQ. In 2025, the UQ Rare Book Auction raised $19,305 for student scholarships, research and educators.
What makes the books so special? It could be their rarity, their provenance, their artistic value, their local historical significance, their academic influence, or even quality of their printing and binding.
If you’d like to discuss donating a rare book, please reach out to the Book Group on +61 7 3346 3166.
The next Rare Book Auction will be held in 2027.
Volunteer to support the Book Fair
The Book Group donate approximately 10,000 collective hours to make the UQ Alumni Book Fair a success – breathing new life into more than 110,000 books, records and other items.
Their work is critical to both the University, and the care of our planet, saving thousands of books from landfill every year.
If you’re a fellow booklover who would like to get involved – we would love to hear from you!
Volunteering as a current student
If you're a current UQ student, volunteering at the Book Fair is a great way to expand your skills and knowledge. Each year, the Book Fair organisers engage with more than 200 volunteer students to make the Book Fair a success. If you are interested in being a part of the volunteer team, please contact us to make the Book Fair a success!
To volunteer throughout the year, or at the Book Fair Event, please email uqalumni@uq.edu.au or phone +61 7 3346 3166 between 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday.