Online Storytime pilot extended, awarded $30,000 funding

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) has announced its Online Storytime pilot will be extended by a further 12 months to December 2022, with the Australia Council providing $30,000 to the initiative.

‘This pilot has already been an enormous success with more than 130 library services registered, and more than $70,000 to be distributed to creators and publishers’ said ALIA CEO Sue McKerracher. ‘The success of this pilot highlights the continuing need for online storytimes, and the value that libraries provide to their communities especially during renewed lockdowns and restrictions.’

The Australian Publishers Association reports ALIA will use the additional Australia Council funding to create additional benefits for registrants including an e-list, newsletter and online events, with around $6000 of the funding to go to authors, creators and publishers to participate in online activities.

Launched in late 2020, the Online Storytime pilot is trialling a system in which publishers permit the use of their Australian picture books in return for a small annual payment from public library branches. The trial follows the popularity of online storytime sessions in 2020, for which special arrangements were made by the Books Create Australia joint industry group, allowing libraries to deliver online storytime sessions without the need for specific permission or payment.

Category: Local news