Why Access to Books Matters
Access to books plays an important role in helping children develop literacy skills, build confidence and discover the joy of reading.
However, not every child has the same opportunities to access books. For some children, limited access to books at home, at school or within their community can create barriers to developing strong reading habits and literacy skills.
By increasing access to engaging, age-appropriate books, we can help more children discover books they enjoy and build a lifelong connection with reading.
The State of Literacy in Australia
Literacy is the foundation for children’s learning, communication and future opportunities. However, many children across Australia are not developing the literacy skills they need.
1 in 3 children in Australia cannot read proficiently.
Source: Grattan Institute, 2024, Australia needs a reading revolution.1 in 4 Year 7 students lack the literacy and numeracy skills needed to start high school.
Source: Victoria University, Mitchell Institute, 2020, Educational opportunity in Australia: Who succeeds and who misses out.
Literacy challenges can have a lasting impact, affecting children’s educational outcomes, confidence and future opportunities.
Nearly 90% of businesses experience productivity issues due to low literacy and numeracy levels among employees.
Source: Ai Group’s Centre for Education and Training, 2024, Counting the cost: Addressing the impacts of low levels of literacy and numeracy in the workplace.
Why Access to Books Makes a Difference
Having books available at home, at school and in the community gives children more opportunities to read, practise their skills and discover stories that inspire them.
Yet access to books is not equal.
4 in 10 children in Australia have just 10 books or fewer at home.
Source: Dymocks and YouGov, 2017, Books for Kids Survey Report.
For children who may have limited access to books outside of school, libraries and classroom collections can provide an important pathway to reading.
63% of children get most of their books from public, school and classroom libraries.
Source: Scholastic, 2024, Kids & Family Reading Report™ Australia.
Why School Libraries Matter
School libraries play an important role in providing children with access to books, particularly for students who may not have a wide range of books available elsewhere.
However, access to well-resourced school libraries varies across Australia. There is currently no national legislative requirement mandating the establishment of school libraries, contributing to differences in access to library resources and support.
Research shows that access to library books supports stronger literacy outcomes.
Students with greater access to library books tend to perform better in literacy.
Source: Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), 2023, Joint Statement on school library inclusion in the National School Reform Agreement.Students who regularly borrow books score, on average, 20–30 points higher in reading comprehension than students who borrow infrequently.
Source: Kylie Hillman, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), 2024, Snapshots Issue 17: Australian Students’ access to and use of libraries.
Why Choice Matters
Finding the right book can make all the difference. Children are more likely to engage with reading when they have the opportunity to choose books that interest them and reflect their experiences.
Research shows that choice and autonomy are critical factors in boosting reading motivation in children.
Source: Australia Reads, 2023, Research Review.Nearly 9 in 10 children say their favourite books are ones they chose themselves.
Source: Scholastic, 2024, Kids & Family Reading Report™ Australia.
This is why choice is central to Dymocks Children’s Charities’ programs. Through Book Bank and Library Regeneration, we help children and schools access books that are engaging, relevant and meaningful.
Helping More Children Access Quality Books
Every child deserves the opportunity to become a confident reader. By improving access to books and empowering children to choose what they read, we can help foster stronger literacy outcomes and a lifelong love of reading.
Through our literacy programs, Dymocks Children’s Charities works with schools and communities across Australia to increase access to brand-new books and create more opportunities for children to read, learn and thrive.