Indigenous Literacy Day aims to help raise funds to raise literacy levels and improve the lives and opportunities of Indigenous Australians living in remote and isolated regions. We need your support to help raise funds to buy books and literacy resources for children in these communities.

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is an initiative and charity of The Australian Book Industry drawing on its diverse range of expertise, skills and resources. It works with the support of the Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Booksellers Association and the Australian Society of Authors.

The Foundation’s core aim and strategies to make a positive and measurable difference in the early literacy levels of Indigenous Australian children in order to raise their prospects in schools our key strategy is to draw on the collective resources of the Australian Book Industry and the goodwill of the public and corporate sector to raise funds for the purchase and provision of books and literacy resources for Indigenous Australian children in communities. Our secondary strategy is to assist in the writing and publishing of Indigenous Australian children’s experiences and stories.

In 2013 this day will be held on Wednesday, 4th of September and you can visit any bookshop and donate as little as you like to go towards this wonderful cause.

This is a Saturday in August to go to your local bookshop as a sign of support and appreciation -  this year’s day will be held on Saturday 10 August.  This event began as an initiative of the Australian Booksellers Association and this concept has since expanded to take in the idea of “IndieBound” so that communities can support their hard working “indie” businesses and retailers.

Indiebound is a community-oriented movement begun by the independent bookseller members of the American Booksellers Association and adopted into Australia by the Australian Booksellers’ Association in 2011.  It brings together booksellers, readers, indie retailers, local business alliances and anyone else with a passionate belief that healthy local economies help communities thrive.  Supporting local, independent businesses means that dollars, jobs, diversity and choices stay local, creating strong, unique communities.

Independent bookshops are increasingly a destination of choice, especially for consumers who want to be part of their community.  Very often bookshops are already at the heart of a community and a place where customers discover their next great book and where they meet someone to talk with about it.  Independent booksellers are uniquely placed to talk to their customers about independence and about sustaining a healthy high street.

Consumers in Australia today are aware of the importance of independent businesses and the health of a high street.  The growth of farmers’ markets and many other campaigns show how important it is to consumers to shop locally.  We want IndieBound to be a key part f the booksellers connecting with these community-aware customers and taking the positive message outwards to other indie retailers and businesses.

Why shop indie?  When you shop at an independent locally-owned business, your entire community benefits.

The Economy:

• Based on US research, for every $100 spent at a local store, $68 of that stays in your community.  Spend the same $100 at a national chain and your community only sees $43.
• Local businesses create higher-paying jobs for our neighbours.
• More of your taxes are reinvested in your community – where they belong.

The Environment:

• Buying local means less packaging, less transportation and a smaller carbon footprint.
• Shopping in a local business district means less infrastructure, less maintenance and more money to put back into your community.

The Community:

• Local retailers are your friends and neighbours:  support them and they will support you.
• More independents mean more choice, more diversity and a truly unique community.