The people behind the independent Melbourne store that just won International Bookstore of the Year talk fostering local literature, great regulars and Australian book recommendations
- Interview with a Bookstore from Literary Hub is part of the Guardian Books Network
Readings first opened in 1969, and it was a partnership of three – Ross Reading, his wife Dorothy Reading, and Peter Reid. At the time, Australia had a very small local publishing industry and most books came from overseas, as Australia was regarded as part of the British Commonwealth via UK publishers.
Readings now has five stores around Melbourne, plus a growing e-commerce business, and will be opening a sixth store later this year. It produces the Readings Monthly, a print newsletter featuring staff reviews, features and interviews, which has over 15,000 subscribers. Readings is involved with more than 300 events per year, with over 200 of those held in its shops. It runs a charitable arm, administers two awards for early-career Australian writers, has a very active online presence, and, of course, it sells lots and lots of books. MORE
Readings now has five stores around Melbourne, plus a growing e-commerce business, and will be opening a sixth store later this year. It produces the Readings Monthly, a print newsletter featuring staff reviews, features and interviews, which has over 15,000 subscribers. Readings is involved with more than 300 events per year, with over 200 of those held in its shops. It runs a charitable arm, administers two awards for early-career Australian writers, has a very active online presence, and, of course, it sells lots and lots of books. MORE
2 comments:
Well done! Readings is always top of my Melbourne to-do list.
LIKEWISE. VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT. THERE IS NOTHING NOT TO LIKE ABOUT READINGS. BEGAN IN 1969. HMM... McLEODS BOOKSELLERS IN ROTORUA WILL CELEBRATE 75 YEARS SOON. ALSO A SUCCESSUL INDEPENDENT. WONDER HOW WIDE THE NET IS CAST?
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