- Published:
- Sunday 16 November 2025 at 9:05 am
The Allan Labor Government is giving Victorian schoolkids the opportunity to swap screens for stories these summer holidays, as part of the fifth annual Big Summer Read.
Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos today visited narrm ngarrgu library in the CBD to launch the statewide reading challenge that aims to combat the “summer slide” – a common reduction in reading time and subsequent loss of literacy skills children experience during the long school holidays.
Victorian children under the age of 18 are eligible to register and track their reading progress through the Big Summer Read website, with digital badges and prizes on offer for participants. As part of the program, parents can register and read to children who can’t read independently yet.
Four winners will each take home a Zoos Victoria family membership, one for each age category, and local libraries from across the state will also award locally sourced prizes to Big Summer Read participants.
The program reinforces the role of public libraries as a vital community resource for early childhood development and lifelong learning throughout adulthood, and was designed to give smaller, rural public library services without an independent summer reading program a way to engage young Victorians over the summer break.
For more info on the Big Summer Read, visit https://readbooks.com.au/bsr
Quotes attributable to Minister for Local Government Nick Staikos
“We know that young people have a decline in literacy skills over the summer holidays when they’re not engaged in reading, and the Big Summer Read aims to combat this.”
“The Big Summer Read helps to get kids across the state into libraries over the summer holidays by making summer reading fun and rewarding.”
Quote attributable to Victorian Public Libraries Ambassador Andrea Rowe
“Victorian libraries are a great place to beat the summer heat, and with so many books on offer there’s something for every reader these summer holidays.”
Quote attributable to Public Libraries Victoria CEO Dr Angela Savage
“The Big Summer Read program supports public libraries across the state, with great prizes on offer for both statewide and local winners.”