Graham Perrett (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure if this is the right climate to say this, but today is a day for lovers—lovers of libraries. I had the pleasure last night of helping launch the Library Lovers' Day with my co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Australian Books and Writers, Senator Linda Reynolds. The Australian public library network is a national asset, supporting reading, literacy, digital skills and cybersafety. It provides spaces for study, safe places, and hosts more than 121,000 story times for young children each year, with over three million participants, runs English classes for new migrants and refugees, helps jobseekers and ensures equal access to information for everyone.

In my electorate of Moreton, we have five public libraries in Coopers Plains, Corinda, Sunnybank Hills, Annerly and, my local library, Fairfield. I will also mention two libraries just outside my electorate that are used by local constituents—Garden City and Indooroopilly libraries. I love my libraries. I'm sure everyone in this place loves their libraries. We can't forget the Parliamentary Library right here in this building that does great work for democracy. Today is your chance to let your library know how you feel. You can fill out a Valentine's Day card like the one I'm holding. Go to the Library Lovers' Day website for details. The Australian Library and Information Association will be putting the best quotes together with love letters from some of our top authors and publishing a 'Library Lovers' book in time for Library and Information Week in May. Don't forget the hashtag #libraryloversday for your social media posts.