Get Involved in Australia’s Reading Hour on September 14 2021!

Originally launched by Australian libraries and library associations for the National Year of Reading in 2012, the Australian Reading Hour began as an event for all Australians to set aside one hour on one day to read – whatever they wanted, wherever they were located, and however they chose to read. 

Now that we’re staying in more, it’s a good time to get reading

Books – in whatever shape, size, or form – are a great way to unwind, learn new things, discover new stories, and feel all kinds of emotions. Whether you’re reading fiction or non-fiction, periodicals or poetry, journals or joke-books, memoir or magical fantasies… your body, heart and brain all know you’re on to something special. That’s why Australia Reads is encouraging everyone to read a little bit more. (Or even a lot more!)

If that hasn’t convinced you here are a few more benefits of reading

1. Reading Makes You More Empathetic
   Reading is a way to escape your own life, and can take you to faraway lands, other times, and put you in other people’s shoes. By viewing the world from a point of view that is not your own, you become more empathetic.

2. Reading Keeps Your Brain Healthy
   Just as exercise helps your body stay healthier longer, reading is an exercise that helps keep your brain fit. As they say, use it or lose it!

3. Reading Reduces Stress
   If you could reduce your stress levels in under ten minutes by doing something you enjoy, would you? A popular study done by the University of Sussex showed that “stress levels declined by 68 percent after participants read for just six minutes”. A good book transports you to another place where your own stresses don’t exist, allowing you to relax.

4. Reading Helps You Sleep Better
   In this time of constant technological connection, our sleep is suffering. The blue light emitted from screens disrupts melatonin levels. By checking “one last email” you are waking your brain up when you should be relaxing. Then there is the stress of reading the news. As we now know, reading a book helps you to relax.

5. Reading Sets an Example for Kids
   Is reading important to you? If it is, it likely will be important to your children. It is proven that “parents are children’s first and most enduring educators and have a huge influence on their development”.

Host Your Own Australian Reading Hour Event With Your Family

Laugh Out Loud 
Host an event for your family and invite everyone to bring a book that has made them laughout loud. Share the joy of these books and take turns reading aloud from your favourite scenes.

Silent Reading Hour
Ask everyone to bring a book of their choice along. Pour yourselves a favourite beverage (whether a cup of tea, bubbles or fruit juice) and enjoy the solace of reading silently alongside others, whether in-person or online. No phone calls, no social media, no chit chat, no internet. Before and after the hour you can chat about anything!

Mrs Mann and I will be participating in this year’s Reading Hour. I hope you will too!

Kind regards,

Mrs Mann and Mrs Barnes