New Storytime agreement reached for booksellers

1.05.20

A special arrangement for storytime sessions during the COVID-19 outbreak has been announced by Books Create Australia, the collaboration between the Australian Booksellers Association (ABA), the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), the Australian Publishers Association (APA) and the Australian Society of Authors (ASA).

For the duration of the pandemic, virtual storytime will be sanctioned by an industry agreement, where storytime involves a bookseller reading a children’s book to children. As our community practices social distancing, booksellers may make recordings or livestream their storytimes so children aren’t denied this important and much-loved service.

To support booksellers deliver storytime online, ABA, the APA and the ASA have made this joint statement:

“The Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Booksellers Association and the Australian Society of Authors share a common goal for all children to be able to enjoy books and stories from the earliest years. 

We value the enthusiasm and support of booksellers in engaging children and fostering an interest in books and a love of reading. 

It is the policy of the Australian Publishers Association and the Australian Society of Authors that its members allow booksellers to conduct virtual storytime, for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, without any need for specific permission or payment.”