More About the Centre

The primary principle underlying the Centre for Youth Literature program is access. Within the limitations of current resources, the Centre aims to maximise geographic, social and cultural access to its program. The Centre for Youth Literature:

• provides a focus for the development and promotion of youth literature in Australia, and a forum for dialogue, exchange and professional development in the field
• encourages reading for pleasure and well-being amongst young people aged 10–18 years, and raises the level of community awareness of reading as a key activity for young people
• provides a vehicle for the documentation of Australian youth literature and supports the work of Australian authors for young people.

History

Established in 1991 as the 'Youth Literature Program', the Centre was originally based at the Victorian Writers Centre. In 1992 it moved to St Martins Youth Arts Centre where it remained until 1998. That year the Victorian government, through Arts Victoria, funded the Australian Centre for Youth Literature to undertake a strategic planning process which resulted in the recommendation to relocate to the State Library of Victoria, which occurred 1999. The Centre for Youth Literature is now a fully integrated program and resource of the Library. In 2005, the name was abbreviated to the Centre for Youth Literature.

Events

The Centre currently presents an extensive annual program of innovative literary events, reaching between 6000 and 8000 young people a year and over 1000 adults working in the areas of youth literature education, literacy, libraries, writing, publishing and bookselling. As well, the Centre presents Australia’s premier youth literature conference, Reading Matters, on a biennial basis. This informs the professional development of educators, school and public librarians, publishers and authors.

Consultancy

The Centre for Youth Literature provides information, advice and inspiration to young people, families and professionals on all aspects of literature and reading. Key personnel offer consultancy services to educators, librarians, authors, publishers and booksellers.