Australia Reads has just announced a new joint research project with the University of Melbourne investigating the ways Australian authors connect with communities through live literature events – from author talks to workshops, performances and school visits.
Live literature is a vital and engaging way of connecting communities with authors, illustrators, and the joys of reading. It’s about that inspiring experience of meeting an author through talks, interviews, workshops, readings and performances in bookshops, libraries, schools, and online.
Despite the proliferation of live literature events in Australia, there has been no empirical research to date that focuses on how these events are organised, what information organisers use to choose and connect with authors, what factors shape programming decisions, and what barriers exist in this process.
The Live Literature Research Project fills this gap by surveying and interviewing a range of event organisers in community settings, to better understand the processes, considerations and barriers to hosting live literature events in Australia.
The insights gained from this research will provide a foundation on which Australia Reads can build resources and make recommendations to support great author events.
With your input, we can help connect more communities with authors and illustrators, and build a more vibrant reading nation.
We’re calling on librarians, teachers, and booksellers to share their experience with us through our range of online surveys. Surveys are open now until Monday 17 July 2023.
