04 August 2016

Ms TRISH DOYLE (Blue Mountains) (16:13): I commend the newly established Blue Mountains sub-branch of the Children's Book Council of Australia [CBCA] NSW Inc. for its work in making children's literature accessible in the Blue Mountains. Last November I had the pleasure of attending the launch, which featured a Dragon Detective Quest. More recently they launched the Little Free Libraries. The aim of Little Free Libraries is to encourage children, and parents, to read by providing ready access to books in public places. Readers are encouraged to browse, borrow and return a book, or replace it with a similar book if they wish to keep it. Four locations have been established: the Gingerbread House in Katoomba, Rust and Timber in Lawson, Wayzgoose Cafe, and Gifts 'n Things in Leura. Little Free Libraries hopes to expand its network over time. I congratulate Sheryl Cootes, President of the CBCA Blue Mountains sub-branch, Tom and Wendy Whitton from Megalong Books and organiser extraordinaire Narelda Joy on this wonderful initiative.