Literacy theme for Library and Information Week

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has announced ‘To Read or Not to Read: Literacy Matters’ as the theme for this year’s Library and Information Week, running 28 July–3 August.

‘We know that reading is a much-loved activity for many Australians. Yet we also know that the choice “to read or not to read” is not a simple one,’ said ALIA in its announcement.

‘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. This Library and Information Week, we shine a light on how libraries actively work to dismantle these barriers.’

Discussing plans for the week, ALIA added: ‘We will explore current research into reading practices and habits, highlight initiatives such as Freedom to Read and our stand against censorship, and […] urge decision-makers to “read the room” and 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.’

Australian Library Week was first celebrated in 1968, run by the Australian Library Promotion Council. ALIA took responsibility for the week in the late 1980s, and updated the name in 2000 ‘to reflect and build awareness of the broader range of the library and information services sector, and promote all types of library and information services in Australia’.

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