more than a thousand words.

A container load of some 15,000 books, from various sectors of the community, will leave on the Oleander destined for Johannesburg.

And local Anti-Apartheid Coalition spokesman Mr. Glenn Fubler said he was more than pleased with the public's response to the project launched less than two months ago.

"We got well over a container load of school text books, encyclopaedias, and other books,'' Mr. Fubler told The Royal Gazette . "We had support from all sectors of the community, about 25 to 30 percent of the books came from schools.

"We were calling for books for class rooms and libraries in general.

"We received a variety, including novels, reference books. We were inundated with so much.

"We have at least 15,000 books. In fact, people have been calling for the past week and a half and I've had to turn them down.'' Had the committee anticipated the "overwhelming'' response, it would have reserved two containers for the books, he added.

Mr. Fubler said the project will probably be repeated this year.

He also thanked everyone who helped with the collecting and packing of the books, including Bermuda Regiment soldiers, Police cadets, prisoners, and prisoner officers who volunteered their time.

"This demonstrates what we can do as a community, not only in helping South Africa, but in coming together ourselves.'' When the books arrive, the South African Council of Churches will distribute the books to libraries and schools throughout Soweto that are in dire need of them.

UPLIFTING CONTRIBUTION -- Members of the Anti-Apartheid Coalition and others involved in the donating, boxing, and shipping of some 15,000 books to South Africa stand under the loaded container at Hamilton Docks yesterday. From left are trucker Mr. Michael Minors, committee members Mr. Stephen Emory, Ms Jasmine Anderson, Ms Fredricka Dickinson who also represented the Bank of Bermuda, Oleander Capt. J. Vrolyk, the Rev. Canon Thomas Nisbett, committee members and Bermuda Industrial Union president Mr. Ottiwell Simmons, Mr. Glenn Fubler, Mr. Ras Gibre, and Mr. Dan Marshall of Shell.