Books Create Australia announces agreement for digital library storytimes

Books Create Australia, the joint industry group comprised of the Australian Booksellers Association, the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the Australian Publishers Association (APA) and the Australian Society of Authors (ASA), has announced a special arrangement for library storytime sessions during the coronavirus outbreak.

As state and federal governments have introduced measures for containing the outbreak—including closing all libraries—the agreement will cover recorded or livestreamed storytimes involving a librarian reading a children’s picture book to children. Recordings must be non-downloadable to the public, can only be used during the period of the outbreak and must be destroyed when the World Health Organisation declares an end to the pandemic.

APA, ASA and ALIA said in a joint statement: ‘[We] share a common goal for all children to be able to enjoy books and stories from the earliest years. Library-run storytimes make this opportunity available to many families, including those without books at home. While the Copyright Act enables the performance of a picture book in some circumstances, the APA, the ASA and ALIA are taking these steps to clarify any doubts.

‘We value a safe environment, where libraries feel confident to adapt early literacy activities such as storytime for online delivery, via an open livestream or recording. It is the policy of the Australian Publishers Association and the Australian Society of Authors that its members allow such use without any need for specific permission or payment.’

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