2012 to re-ignite reading love affair for Australians

The National Year of Reading has begun! Thousands of events and activities will be staged across Australia this year to celebrate reading and foster a reading culture in all Australian homes.

The official launch will be on 14 February, but many activities are already underway. Local libraries, schools, bookshops and community groups will host events and activities throughout the year offering lots of opportunities for all Australians to get involved.

One of the National Year of Reading’s first actions is a nation-wide search for eight books that paint a picture of the Australian people and the land we live in.

There are other national programs running as part of the National Year of Reading including a peer-to-peer book recommendations project for teens as well as the Our Story and workplace literacy programs for adults.

The Reading Hour on 25 August 2012 will encourage parents and grandparents to share a book with their children for at least an hour each week and a public library membership drive will encourage people to join their local library dispelling the myth that libraries are a ‘scary place to go’ if you can’t read or write well.

For more information about the National Year of Reading and to find events in your part of Australia visit www.love2read.org.au