We sell all kinds of books, running from architecture and art to travel and women via large sections of biography, foreign language, history and politics. 

There’s a section of rarer books at about half the price you’d pay if you could find them on the internet.

We also have a section of new books, published in the last three years and in pristine condition, which make good gifts.

The books are mainly donations. Some of the rarer ones come from people who are moving into smaller accommodation or the executors of comrades who have died — some wonderful personal libraries reflecting a lifetime of reading and study and activism. But the books come from local neighbours too and from donors further away. 

They’re mostly sold very cheap so that people can easily afford them. It’s a service as well as a fundraiser. 

Rarities or art books will occasionally sell for up to £20. The rare ones are a problem. 

We need more volunteers to put them up for sale on the internet as they are quite often quoted there at £100 or so and it’s a waste to put them into our sales if they’re on obscure subjects. 

We could make a lot more for the Morning Star Summer of Heroes Appeal or the Fighting Fund if we had more help of that kind but it needs people with storage space and time to work at it.

Recently we’ve made about £300 a month, but the last one raised £429.10. They’re always reported in the Morning Star’s Ivan Beavis column. 

In the last 12 months we’ve raised between £4,000 and £5,000 but that includes more than our monthly sales. We take stalls in local festivals and street parties and this year in the Radical Book Fair.

Today our group is from different parts of London. We meet once a month to sort and price the newly arrived books and to act as an informal committee.

We particularly need volunteers with cars — we aim to collect from anywhere in Greater London.

Many of our most dedicated helpers just love the books and the social side of things. 

If you’re interested in getting involved please email nseyd@hotmail.com or ring (020) 7278 5764. 

The Camden Book Sale is held at the Marchmont Community Centre, 62 Marchmont Street WC1, close to Russell Square Tube station. It is held on the third Saturday of each month other than December, although it is occasionally rescheduled to avoid clashing with other political events. Keep an eye on the Morning Star Readers and Supporters column, which appears in the paper every Wednesday, for details.

Personally, I’ve been a reader even from childhood when the paper, which was called the Daily Worker then, had a children’s corner. 

I’m also a shareholder, so am one of the owners.

When I worked abroad for a couple of years I remember one of the things I most consciously missed was taking part in street sales of the paper. 

Anyone who has any part in the trade union movement benefits by its coverage. I can’t understand how some of my colleagues manage without.

I also value the resumption of reporting on Labour Party news as well as continuing features by Jeremy Corbyn and others. 

And who would want to miss the pictures of large and small demonstrations and actions that we’ve taken part in? 

I’d say our paper is part of our present and our future. Thank you for asking.