Following an announcement from Australia Reads, Inverell Shire Public Library has been named as one of 27 successful schools, libraries and bookshops who will host LitUp events with authors and illustrators in their local communities.
The program received more than 130 applications for LitUp for the pilot year, showing demand in Australia for opportunities to connect with books, reading and authors – particularly in regional and remote locations in Queensland and New South Wales.
LitUp encourages a lifelong love of books and reading, through in-person connections with Australia’s world-class authors and illustrators.
The program provides funding and training to support the delivery of a series of community-led live literature events in each area.
A partnership with Creative Australia and the Copyright Agency, LitUp aims to help communities overcome social, geographic and financial barriers that prevent them from hosting events with authors, supporting them to bring the benefits of reading and live literature to their area.
Participating organisations are based in Queensland and New South Wales, the two pilot states for the first year of the program, and their events will run between February – June 2026.
The participating schools, libraries and bookshops will work with each other and Australia Reads over the coming months to select and invite authors and illustrators to visit the following communities in NSW:
● Big Sky Libraries, Moree Plains Shire
● Big Sky Stories, Broken Hill
● Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Orange
● Coffs Harbour Libraries, Coffs Harbour
● Hilltops Council Libraries, Hilltops Shire
● Inverell Shire Public Library, Inverell
● Leeton Shire Library, Leeton Shire
● Maitland City Council Libraries, Maitland
● Newcastle Libraries, Newcastle
● Raymond Terrace Public School, Newcastle
● Ross Hill Public School, Inverell
● South Grafton Public School, Coffs Harbour
● St Joseph’s Primary East Maitland, Maitland
● Telarah Public School, Maitland
● The Book Connection, Dubbo
● The Turning Page Bookshop, Blue Mountains
Leisa Bacon, Executive Director, Development & Partnerships at Creative Australia says a growing body of evidence, including Australia Reads research, shows that early and sustained engagement with reading helps shape lifelong habits, with far reaching benefits for education, literacy and health.
LitUp builds on this by creating new opportunities for children in regional and remote areas to connect with authors and illustrators.
By supporting events that inspire joy and curiosity around books, we’re helping to nurture confident young readers and a love of literature that lasts a lifetime.”
Inverell Shire Mayor, Cr Kate Dight stated “We are absolutely thrilled that the Inverell Shire Public Library has been selected as one of the pilot locations for the LitUP program.
This is a wonderful opportunity to further ignite a love of reading across our communities and we’re proud to be part of an initiative that celebrates literacy, imagination, and lifelong learning.
We look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on readers of all ages in our Shire.”
Media Release: Inverell Shire Council
