MOREE Regional Library and Inverell Shire Public Library have been named as two of 27 successful schools, libraries and bookshops to host LitUp events with authors and illustrators in their local communities.
LitUp is a new, live literature initiative from Australia Reads, which provides opportunities for more Australian schools and communities to host events with authors and illustrators.
The program received more than 130 applications for LitUp for the pilot year, showing demand in Australia for opportunities to connect with books, reading and authors – particularly in regional and remote locations in Queensland and New South Wales.
LitUp encourages a lifelong love of books and reading, through in-person connections with Australia’s world-class authors and illustrators.
The program provides funding and training to support the delivery of a series of community-led live literature events in each area.
A partnership with Creative Australia and the Copyright Agency, LitUp aims to help communities overcome social, geographic and financial barriers that prevent them from hosting events with authors, supporting them to bring the benefits of reading and live literature to their area.
Executive director, development and partnerships at Creative Australia, Leisa Bacon, said a growing body of evidence, including Australia Reads research, shows early and sustained engagement with reading helps shape lifelong habits, with far reaching benefits for education, literacy and health.
“LitUp builds on this by creating new opportunities for children in regional and remote areas to connect with authors and illustrators,” Ms Bacon said.
“By supporting events that inspire joy and curiosity around books, we’re helping to nurture confident young readers and a love of literature that lasts a lifetime.”
Inverell Shire mayor Kate Dight is thrilled Inverell Shire Public Library has been selected as one of the pilot locations for the LitUp program.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to further ignite a love of reading across our communities and we’re proud to be part of an initiative that celebrates literacy, imagination, and lifelong learning,” Cr Dight said.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on readers of all ages in our Shire.”
Participating organisations are based in Queensland and New South Wales, the two pilot states for the first year of the program, and their events will run between February and June next year.
The participating schools, libraries and bookshops will work with each other and Australia Reads over the coming months to select and invite authors and illustrators to visit communities in New South Wales, including Big Sky Libraries in Moree Plains Shire and Inverell Shire Public Library.
Moree local studies and digitisation officer, Adam Mitchell, said the Moree library has undergone upgrades in recent months.
“It’s been an exciting time at the Moree Community Library,” Mr Mitchell said.
“There is new carpet in all public spaces, new hard flooring in the programs room, a new roof on the Memorial Town Hall and Library building.
“We also have a new library layout and numerous new interactive items in the kids area. If members of public haven’t already done so, I highly encourage everyone to come in and have a look at these fresh, new changes,” Mr Mitchell said.
New carpet in all public spaces has been fitted at Moree Community Library in recent months.
Meanwhile, from July 28 to August 3, libraries across the country will come together to mark Library and Information Week.
Run annually by the Australian Library and Information Association, this year’s Library and Information Week theme is To Read or Not To Read: Literacy Matters.
While reading is a much-loved activity for many Australians, the choice ‘to read or not to read’ is not a simple one.
“Socioeconomic circumstances, barriers to learning, the growing need for new kinds of literacies, limited or restricted access to books and technology, even time constraints can make reading an uphill battle for many,” Australian Library and Information Association says.
This Library and Information Week, libraries around Australia will shine a light on how libraries actively work to dismantle these barriers.
The week will also boost existing advocacy messaging and urge decision-makers to consider what will happen if literacy rates decline and citizens are not equipped with the appropriate literacy skills to manage their day-to-day lives.
