National Year of Reading 2012

Willoughby City Library Services supports the National Year of Reading 2012

The National Year of Reading, or NYOR, is to be a year of celebrating reading in all its forms and promoting literacy in the community. The NYOR will link together all the positive things that are already happening around books, reading and literacy, and give them an extra boost with inspirational programs and events taking place across the country. To find out more about the National Year of Reading, go to the official website at www.love2read.org.au.

On Tuesday 14th February, the National Year of Reading 2012 (NYOR 2012) was launched at the National Library of Australia, at State and Territory Libraries, and at Public Libraries throughout Australia. At Chatswood Library on The Concourse the Mayor of Willoughby, Cr Pat Reilly, formally launched the NYOR 2012 in Willoughby.

The launch was followed by a lively panel discussion by three authors: Juanita Phillips, Michael Robotham and Anna Fienberg, chaired by Scott Whitmont from Lindfield Bookshop. The panel discussed books and their own reading, the influence that books and reading has had on them, and also the future of the book.

A special Romance Writing Workshop followed and the last NYOR event of the day was a Make-a-Book Children's Craft Activity where children aged 5-12 enjoyed making their own illustrated story books.

National Year of Reading Program at Willoughby City Library Services

Tue 26 June 12:30-1:30pm, at Chatswood Library	Discover the eBook Experience Thinking of joining the eBook revolution? Come along to see how easy it is to access eBooks from Willoughby City Library as National Year of Reading supporter The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, BA, DIntS, MCom MP introduces a demonstration of the eBook collection now available online.
3rd Thur of month, 3:45-4:45pm, at Artarmon Library	Teenage Reading Group Come along and join in the discussion about the importance of reading what you like to read. Ages 13-17. No bookings required.

Make a real difference to literacy

In a call for action for the National Year of Reading, many organisations are addressing the issue of indigenous literacy during 2012. You can get involved and help these organisations to make a real difference to indigenous literacy:
Indigenous Literacy Foundation aims to raise literacy levels and improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Australians living in remote and isolated regions. Visit the ILF website to see how you can contribute to their projects, and to find out how they'll be celebrating the National Year of Reading 2012. http://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/

The Smith Family is a national, independent children's charity helping disadvantaged Australians to get the most out of their education, so they can create better futures for themselves. Find out how you can get involved at The Smith Family website http://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/site/page.cfm

The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) is dedicated to raising language, literacy and numeracy standards in Australia and raises funds to develop, implement and sustain innovative projects for individuals, families and communities. Find out about the ALNF’s Share a Book program at the ALNF website. https://alnf.org/

The Reading Hour

books The National Year of Reading call for action initiates the idea that everyone can benefit from reading for an hour a week.

You might choose to:

Enhance your child's potential in 2012, by sharing a book with your child for 10 minutes a day
Restore some work-life balance in your day by taking a break with a book at lunchtime
Get together with friends to read and talk about your favourite books or join a book club
Incorporate a reading hour in the school week

The Reading Hour will be celebrated across the country on Saturday 25 August. Willoughby City Library Services will host a reading of the poems of Francis Webb.

Our Story competition

Each Australian state and territory was invited to vote on a shortlist of six books each, chosen by an independent panel of readers, to form a collection that when read together, describes the Australian experience.

NSW residents were encouraged to vote for the book that "speaks" about life in NSW and to think about what makes living here unique..

The eight winning titles in the Our Story Competition were announced on Tuesday 14th February during the National Launch of the National Year of Reading 2012 at the National Library of Australia, Canberra. The eight titles are now listed on www.love2read.org.au

The winning titles were Smoke and Mirrors, by Kel Robertson (ACT); The Idea of Home, by John Hughes (NSW); Listening to Country, by Ros Moriarty (NT); The White Earth, by AndrewMcGahan (QLD); Time's Long Ruin, by Stephen Orr (SA); Wanting, by Richard Flanagan (TAS); Well Done, Those Men, by Barry Heard (VIC) and Jasper Jones, by Craig Silvey (WA).

For information on the titles go to http://www.love2read.org.au/library/files/NationalYearofReadingLaunch14February2012.pdf.

Read This competition

Young adults are encouraged to get involved with the National Year of Reading by creating a promotion of your favourite book through a film trailer, a picture, a song, a T-shirt or whatever works for you.
Enter your creation at the Read This! website http://readthis2012.com/

Are We There Yet? competition

Children from ages 2-12 are invited to submit a short story or a letter or a drawing of your home town or a special place you have visited in Australia to be in with a chance to win a fabulous prize. Competition runs from 16 August – 21 September 2012. Visit the Are we there yet website www.love2read.org.au/awty.cfm for more information.

Throughout 2012 keep an eye out for NYOR monthly themes:

January: The Amazing Read	July: Discover
February: Laugh	August: Question
March: Think	September: Grow
April: Feel	October: Explore
May: Escape	November: Cry
June: Dream	December: love2read