A Brisbane-based street librarian reading to local children for NSRW 2023. Photo: Supplied.
Street Library Australia will facilitate its second annual National Shared Reading Week (NSRW) from Monday 28 October until Sunday 3 November 2024. During National Shared Reading Week, more than 100 street librarians will host shared reading events at street libraries around the country to celebrate books and reading with their communities.
It’s always a bit of a mystery fossick when one wanders around to the nearest street library – usually a DIY project – lovingly painted and decorated by the owners to lure passersby to reach in, spy and take away a book or two within this free depository. Among the dog-eared airport thrillers languishing, there may be a few surprises to pique interest.
Thuy On is the Reviews and Literary Editor of ArtsHub and an arts journalist, critic and poet who’s written for a range of publications including The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, Sydney Review of Books, The Australian, The Age/SMH and Australian Book Review. She was the Books Editor of The Big Issue for 8 years and a former Melbourne theatre critic correspondent for The Australian.
Her debut, a collection of poetry called Turbulence, came out in 2020 and was released by University of Western Australia Publishing (UWAP). Her second collection, Decadence, was published in July 2022, also by UWAP. Her third book, Essence, will be published in 2025.
Threads: @thuy_on123 Instagram: poemsbythuy
