Street Library Blog
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From 30 to 4,500: How street libraries took off, reviving a love of books and spreading community spirit
Enjoy this Feel Good Read of the Day by the ABC Wide Bay's Grace Whiteside. In an age where screens and virtual technology reign supreme, communities across Australia have embraced street libraries and are reviving a love of "good old-fashioned" books. Source: From...
Welcoming Warrah Street Library
Warrah is a community based organisation in Dural that is dedicated to supporting individuals with a disability across a range of services and settings. Thanks to a generous donation from Hornsby Council, Warrah is now the proud owner of its very own Street Library!...
ChatGPT behind influx of AI-written books on Amazon | Digital Trends
Does this = end times? Wannabe novelists who don’t want to put in the time or effort to create their literary masterpiece are turning to ChatGPT for help. Source: ChatGPT behind influx of AI-written books on Amazon | Digital Trends
Julia Donaldson ends James Patterson’s reign as UK libraries’ most borrowed author
Sorry James. Heck, yes Julia! Data shows that Patterson’s 14-year run as readers’ overall favourite has given way to the Gruffalo author Source: Julia Donaldson ends James Patterson’s reign as UK libraries’ most borrowed author
Beach Libraries!
According to the Gregorian calendar, summer is officially coming to a close. But at SLA we’re confident there are a good couple of beach-going months ahead of us. We love seeing Street Libraries at beaches and surf clubs around the place, but have you had the...
A Street Library Q&A with Author Felicity Castagna
Sydney author Felicity Castagna has written four novels, her latest being Girls in Boys’ Cars. An internationally published author, Felicity’s 2018 novel No More Boats was a finalist in the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Awards. She also publishes essays on home,...
A different kind of library branch – ABC Radio
Have you ever visited a wood library? Source: A different kind of library branch - ABC Radio
Australian Reading Hour
Heads up (or is that heads down?) everyone! Australian Reading Hour will take place on Thursday March 9. This very special celebration was launched as part of the 2012 National Year of Reading and is now a much-loved highlight on Australia’s literary calendar.For...
Kids are finding books hidden all over this town and ‘it’s a bit magical’, say parents
Literary treasure hunts are giving children both the thrill of finding a book and the benefits of reading. Source: Kids are finding books hidden all over this town and 'it's a bit magical', say parents
New Product Alert – Meet ‘The Big Pete’ Street Library
We’re chuffed to announce there’s an extremely handsome and practical new Street Library on the block. Meet our new model, ‘The Big Pete’. Isn’t he lovely? The Big Pete is lovingly named after one of our favourite Petes, a fella who is hugely instrumental in the...
‘A very street library thing’: in praise of sharing books with strangers
"I don’t know any of these donors and they don’t know me. But we all know the street library. And that’s a very special thing." From chance encounters with neighbours to the 1970 Australian Women’s Weekly Cookbook, a weekly trip to the street library is a special kind...
Catch The Film Adaptation Of Blueback Based On The Work Of Street Library Patron Tim Winton
Blueback is an achingly beautiful story about family, belonging and living a life in tune with the environment, from one of Australia's best-loved authors (and Street Library patron), Tim Winton. Originally published in 1997, the story has now been adapted for a film...
Celebrating our 2022 Street Library of the Year
Street Library Australia is calling on the entire Street Library community to congratulate those who made submissions for the 2022 Street Library of the Year. This years’ submissions were a delightful mix of old hands, newbies, individuals and organisations; all of...
Enriching Community with Street Library Australia
One for the calendar! Encourage your community leaders to join Street Library Australia in collaboration with Place Partners for a very special webinar on Thursday March 30, 2023 at 10.30am. We will share information on how Street Libraries strengthen communities and...
Helsinki Built a Library That Brings a Whole City Together
Why do half of all Finnish citizens visit the library every month? The answer lies in Oodi Library, a blueprint for fostering human convergence. Source: Helsinki Built a Library That Brings a Whole City Together
Say ‘Hello’ to Emily, Eef and Mila – Our Street Librarians of the Month
Street Libraries are a beautiful way of making community connections, particularly for those new to a neighbourhood. Meet Emily, Eef and Mila (9), who moved to Farmborough Heights (NSW) earlier this year and quickly established a Street Library to help create...
Holly Throsby is our Author Judge for the 2022 Street Library of the Year
We’re thrilled to share that musician and novelist Holly Throsby has agreed to join us as this years’ Author Judge for the 2022 Street Library of the Year. Holly, whose third novel Clarke was recently published by Allen & Unwin, will make her selection from a...
How one school turned boys into happy book nerds
Reading is central to the learning of all students at Ashfield Boys' High.Source: AFR
Inner West Council Library and History
A lovely project from Sydney-based librarian, Lisa. Source: Inner West Council Library and History
Looking After Your Street Library
How’s your Street Library looking? Do you want to show it some love? Or, hands up if you’re sick of the endless rain and the damage it’s doing to properties, communities and Street Libraries around the country? Hello there! Books remain our friends throughout time and...
Gulp. Did somebody say ‘Christmas’?
Street Libraries make fantastic gifts that literally keep on giving, not just to your loved ones, but to the wider community. More and more we’re finding that people are purchasing Street Libraries for others. At Christmas time when we tend towards over-consumption,...
Welcome, Honeybee!
The Honeybee Library in Middle Ridge, QLD, is one of the newer libraries on the literary block and Street Librarian Jo says that while the painting and decorating of the library was a passion project for her family, establishing the library itself has been a real...
Nominations Open for Australia’s Street Library of the Year, 2022!
How excellent is your local Street Library? Is it a contender for Australia's Street Library of the Year 2022? Would you like to put your own Street Library forward for this auspicious gong? We love seeing all sorts of Street Libraries springing up around the country...
WardellCORE – Fostering a Resilient Community
Sydney author Felicity Castagna has written four novels, her latest being Girls in Boys’ Cars. An internationally published author, Felicity’s 2018 novel No More Boats was a finalist in the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Awards. She also publishes essays on home,...
The libraries of things bringing back neighbourhood sharing
Two new community initiatives offering the opportunity to borrow everything from chainsaws to party supplies are aiming to reduce waste and bring back the tradition of neighbourhood sharing. Source: The libraries of things bringing back neighbourhood sharing
SICS Radio – Community Value in Street Libraries
Street libraries offer communities an alternative and sustainable venue for finding and reusing books, supporting literacy at the ground (or street) level. In SICS Radio’s 3rd broadcast celebrating Social Sciences Week, we discuss how Social Science helps us...
Library exhibit shows ‘glimpse of humanity’ in lost items in books
Over a period of 10 years, a team of librarians has been collecting little items found in returned library books. There are now more 350 items which are being featured in a physical and online collection. Source: Library exhibit shows 'glimpse of humanity' in lost...
The Tale of Tony Teddy Street Library
A very wise teacher once said that a Street Library is a tiny vestibule of literary generosity. Hilltop Child Care Centre’s Tony Teddy Street Library in Merrylands, NSW, is strong testament to this idea and has taken it a step further. The centre’s staff are all too...
Geocaching x Street Libraries
Unearthing literary discoveries in your local Street Library is super-exciting, but for many individuals finding a Geocache inside a Street Library is next level! Geocaching is a real-world outdoor adventure played all over the world. Participants use the Geocaching...
Double the Street Libraries
We were pretty thrilled to read in the Ballarat Courier recently that the Street Library population in Ballarat, VIC, has more than doubled since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic. There aren’t many figures that have come with the pandemic that we welcome or...
