Queensland book club launched to encourage reading
Mon 16 April 2007
Lauren Kesby, Journalism
The State Library of Queensland, The Courier-Mail and ABC Radio 612 are joining forces to bring The Big Book Club to Queensland residents in the next three years.
Introduced in Queensland at the beginning of March 2007, the statewide reading program is intended “to bring writers and the love of reading” to its members. The Courier-Mail Big Book Club selects a book each month to be promoted across Queensland. The book’s author also tours Queensland visiting libraries and hosting literary events.
The major projects being launched are The Big Book Club (TBBC) and the Big Little Book Club (BLBC). TBBC is a monthly book club aimed at adults. The BLBC is an early literacy program for parents of children aged up to five years.
The Big Book Club Inc is a not-for-profit arts organisation that was first established in South Australia in 2003. The Big Book Club Inc website said its aim is to “promote reading, the discussion of books and the promotion of Australian authors”.
The Queensland Public Libraries Statistical Bulletin for 2004 to 2005 shows an increase in membership but a decrease in loans and visits. The State Library of Queensland (SLQ) has released statistics revealing that membership has increased from 1,807,088 in 2003 to 1,893,456 in 2004; an increase of 4.56 per cent. Meanwhile, from 2003 to 2004 loans have decrease 1.34 per cent from 39,875,364 and visits have decreased 4.26 per cent from 17,234,051.
However, Australians aren’t necessarily reading less despite the fact library loans have decreased. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released information that shows an increase in book sales across Australia. The Book Retailers Australia statistical reports from 2000 to 2003 found the total income from retail sales of new books had increased from $A933.6 million during the year 2000 to $A1103.3 million in 2003.
Maroochydore Library patron Betty Walker, 81, said she found the above statistics “very strange”.
“In this day and age with people complaining about money I can’t understand why they would buy a book when they can borrow them for free from their local library,” she said.
“Any reading of any book is a good idea. I read different books now than when I was young. Anything that encourages people to read is a good idea and I support all ventures that do that. I will be looking forward to reading the selected book each month. It ensures that you read different genres as well, maybe reading out of your comfort zone, which I believe will make people more open to different things,” Mrs Walker said.
“Having the chance to meet and hear the thoughts of the author of the book you’ve just read is great.”
Image(s) designed by Lauren Kesby