Workshop - Reaching Readers

Workshop Description:

Drawing on findings from the recent Understanding Australian readers report, this research-backed workshop will take an in-depth look at different reader personas and draw on behavioural science to look at effective ways of engaging new and infrequent readers.

Participants will have the opportunity to work together to devise and design practical strategies to attract new readers, based on the research insights, and share ideas for the design of a national reading campaign. You’ll come away with some of the skills and inspiration to use when designing reading programs in your own library communities.

Who should attend this workshop:
This workshop is suitable for library staff and leaders who are interested in building a vibrant reading culture in libraries.

Workshop Date:

Monday 11 May 2026 | 9:30am – 12:30pm

Workshop Cost:

$220 (ALIA members only)

Presenter Bio

Anna Burkey is a creative leader with a passion for books, stories, reading and learning. Hailing from Scotland, where she was on the founding team of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature, Anna now lives in Melbourne, on Wurundgeri country.

After eight years in senior leadership roles with State Library Victoria, establishing StartSpace and leading the Centre for Youth Literature, Anna now heads up Australia Reads. With founding partners ALIA, Australian Publishers Association, Australian Society of Authors and the BookPeople booksellers association, we’re working together to grow Australia Reads, a national not-for-profit dedicated to increasing reading rates.

Australia Reads is on a mission to get more people reading more books, more often – because reading has the power to change our lives.