What if the future of the book in Australia does not emerge from Silicon Valley, London or Sydney: but is rather in the hands of grassroots organisations with local aspirations? Contrary to the persistent narrative of literary downturn, the production of books in Australia is increasing, not diminishing, and many of these new books are being published by regional Australians, including regional Indigenous Australians.

A dynamic story can be told about cultural heritage, digital change, storytelling, and the history and future of the book in Australia if we turn our attention to regional areas, defined here as populations outside the capital cities, and encompassing both the rural and remote. Moreover, a granular and nuanced story about regional Australia can be told by examining community-generated literary output.

Reading and writing communities are widespread and varied in regional and rural Australia. People living in places outside of urban centres encounter challenges when it comes to the supply and distribution of books, leading to some innovative practices that deserve more attention. The constraints of distance and limited resources give rise to different kinds of shared reading and writing practices that partially compensate for significant gaps in literary infrastructure.

Reading groups, initiated and sustained by social networks and regularly supplied with books by institutions such as local libraries and the College of Adult Education, are key sites of intersubjective meaning-making. These groups may sometimes be difficult for researchers to track - and engage with - but they can provide insight into how people think about their places and communities.

This online symposium is jointly hosted by academics researching Community Publishing in Regional Australia (Beth Driscoll, Alexandra Dane, Sandra Phillips and Kim Wilkins) and Reading and Writing Communities in the Mallee (Emily Potter and Brigid Magner).

The event will run roughly between 10am and 4pm AEDT (Sydney/Melbourne Time). Precise timings and schedule to be confirmed prior to the event.

For enquiries, please contact Caitlin Parker: parker.c1@unimelb.edu.au.