2MCE FM Community Value in Street Libraries
SICS Radio September 8, 2022
Street libraries offer communities an alternative and sustainable venue for finding and reusing books, supporting literacy at the ground (or street) level. In SICS Radio’s 3rd broadcast celebrating Social Sciences Week, we discuss how Social Science helps us understand humanity, society and the institutions which govern our daily lives through the lens of street libraries. This year, our speakers are researchers and representatives from organisations supporting this literary phenomenon active in communities across Australia.
Dr Peter John Chen is a senior lecturer in Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney. His recent article in the Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association discusses the role of street libraries in building literacy and social capital in the community and the gift economy.
Nic Lowe is the Chairman of the Board for Street Library, an initiative that supports citizens in sharing and exchanging books in small libraries on the street or in their yards in an effort to build community and literacy.
Ali Berg is co-founder of Books on the Rail, a movement that encourages Book Ninjas to leave books on Australian public transport services.
