Give the gift of imagination with a BookPeople Gift Card. Our gift and eGift cards are the perfect gift for readers of all ages, and are valid at local BookPeople member bookshops, Collins and Dymocks across Australia, so when you’re buying a gift for that special reader in your life, think national and support local with a BookPeople Gift Card. You can buy a gift card here or click on find a bookshop for your closest store to redeem a BookPeople Gift Card.
BookPeople's next Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 16th, 2024 at BookPeople's annual conference.
The 2023 minutes and BookPeople Annual Report for 2023-2024 will be made available prior.
Members can log in to read the 2023 - 2024 BookPeople Annual Report.
Members read more ...Our advocacy seeks to place bookshops firmly in the Arts sector, as we know that Australian authors generate their careers through support from local bookshops. We support our local industry stance on maintenance of Parallel Importation Rules, and advocate for writing and literature to receive a bigger slice of Australia Council funding. We lobby for a fair go for small business and our membership of the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) supports this.
We also advocate for local bookshops to receive a fair deal from publishers, from terms and conditions to supply chain improvements. We have excellent relationships with our sibling organisations in the UK, USA and NZ, and provide opportunities for our members to engage with the global bookselling industry through membership of the European International Booksellers Federation.
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Foundation president G.B.Philip 1961-63 Ethel Payne, SA 1971-73 Cedric Pearce, TAS
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1981-82 Teki Dalton, ACT 1990-91 Richard Young, SA
1991-94 Tony Horgan, NSW 1994-95 Ian Patterson, VIC 1995-97 Tim Peach, NSW 1997-00 Mary Dalmau, VIC 2000-02 Margie Arnold, SA 2002-03 Jeff Higgins, NSW 2003-05 Chris Harrington, VIC 2005-07 Derek Dryden, NSW 2007-10 Fiona Stager, QLD 2010-13 Jon Page, NSW 2013-16 Patricia Genat, SA 2016-19 Tim White, VIC 2019-21 Jay Lansdown NSW 2021-23 Jane Seaton WA
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Businesses and individuals wishing to join BookPeople are asked to fill in the application form below. We endeavour to confirm your application has been approved by the BookPeople's management committee within five business days. Please get in This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to discuss the application process.
Please note that the membership subscription is charged pro-rata for those joining after April 1st in any given year.
All Australian bookshops are welcome to join BookPeople. Our current members range from independent bookshops to chain bookstores and encompass campus, antiquarian and second-hand and online retailers.
BookPeople also welcomes supplier, associate and individual members to join the association.
Supplier members are any business involved in the supply of books or related goods to BookPeople members.
Associate members are any member of the Small Press Network, Christian Bookselling Association Australia (CBAA), Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers (ANZAAB) or a Newsagents Association.
Individuals working in a member bookshop or planning on opening a bookshop are very welcome to join BookPeople. Individual memberships do not derive corporate member benefits.
Join us today.
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George Barker
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Mary Dalmau |
Whether you are an established bookseller or a new entrant to the bookselling industry we can help you connect with others, improve your business efficiencies, represent your interests to the book trade and government.
Our membership includes a cross-section of booksellers from small to large, independent, second-hand, franchise, online, specialist and campus booksellers. Our partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation stretches back to its foundation by BookPeople Life Member Suzy Wilson, and we support literary organisations such as Australia Reads and the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation. We are a member of Books Create Australia, a group consisting of the Australian Publishers Association, the Australian Library and Information Association, and the Australian Society of Authors, created to advocate for improved outcomes for books and reading and the combined membership of all the associations.
Our annual National Conference brings our members together from across the country to hear from fellow booksellers, authors and publishers and other guest speakers to dissect our industry and reflect on trends and best practice. It is an opportunity to network, learn new skills, and to reward your staff over two days of intense bookselling talk. The afternoon of the first day includes a trade exhibtion showcasing all the best upcoming titles, and a gala dinner where we make our awards for the books and booksellers of the year.
BookPeople reading guides are put together in collaboration with bookseller panels that vote on the titles featured, and are used in over 100 bookshops across the country. As well as support and networking, our members also have the opportunity to access a wide range of business services through our member benefit partnerships, including an Australia Post scheme that provides discounted rates, the BookPeople buying group that delivers increased discounts on monthly new releases and backlist, and our range of bags, stickers and other consumables.
Love Your Bookshop Day (LYBD) is our annual grassroots celebration of all things bookshops. Now moved to October as a lead-in to Christmas trading, we provide promotional collateral (posters, bookmarks, mobiles, etc) and promote bookshops through social and traditional media, run national competitions, and lift the profile of bookshops as we head into our most important trading period. Booksellers celebrate with in-store events ranging from face-painting to rock and roll bands, in-store author readings and signings, and a range of promotions and special offers.
Join the BookPeople now!
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Read more ...We have been advocating for bookshops, books and reading for almost 100 years, and have evolved with our members along the way. Our new name, BookPeople, is another evolution for your association as the place where Bookselling Business meets Bookselling Culture. We are a sustainable and strategic retail partner for our members, representing our booksellers’ uniqueness, individuality, and expertise. We nurture positive relationships with all our stakeholders and promote professional and ethical practices. We are a not-for-profit and exist exclusively for the benefit of you, our members. Supportive and assured, we are BookPeople.
BookPeople
Unit 9 828 High Street Kew East VIC 3102
Phone: 03 9859 7322
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Chief Executive Officer
Robbie Egan - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Operations Manager
Kate Sloggett - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Communications Manager
Robyn Huppert - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
BookPeople Buying Group Manager
Galina Marinov - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
David Parritt - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Member Services Manager
Ben Ripley - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rachel Chopping - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Accounts - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Titles featured in BookPeople's monthly newsletter 'Monthly Highlights' have been selected by a panel of BookPeople buying group booksellers.
Click to view and download the latest issue - NOVEMBER
BookPeople buying group members will receive additional terms on these titles.
If you are interested in becoming a buying group bookseller Galina would love to hear from you.
Galina can be contacted on 0414 166 203 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Log in to see previous Monthly Highlights.
Members read more ...New national rules for gift cards came into effect on 1 November and apply to all Australian businesses.
For more information visit the ACCC website at accc.gov.au/business/treating-customers-fairly/rules-for-gift-cards
Australia Post - members please log in to see last deliveries details on the Australia Post eParcel page
BookPeople Book Vouchers - All voucher orders to be received at the BookPeople by COB Wednesday 18th December
BookPeople Bags - All bag orders must be received at the BookPeople by COB by 17 December. The warehouse will re-open for dispatch on 6 January 2020.
BookPeople members please log in for full content including hotlist order forms.
Content will be updated as suppliers provide us with their Christmas cut off communications.
Members read more ...‘Find a bookshop’ is a web tool which allows the public to search for and locate their local BookPeople member bookshop by postcode or specialisation.
BookPeople members opt-in to be in the directory and the listing can include specialisations, email address, social media links and an icon that shows the acceptance of Australian book vouchers.
Place your orders now for the BookPeople Reading Guide SUMMER 24 edition, arriving in store in early November.
The guide itself will be A4, 20 pages full colour and printed on high quality 90gsm matt paper. It will cover new releases from late September to December and some key January 25 publications.
The cover (in the BookPeople branding and design) will feature artwork taken from the jacket of Tim Winton’s Juice, published by Hamish Hamilton (October 24).
Features include:
Titles in the SUMMER guide are selected and reviewed by booksellers for booksellers and their customers.
ALL BookPeople members are welcome to order the guides.
The SUMMER guide is part of the BookPeople reading guides Loyalty Rebate Incentive, log in below for more details.
You can order copies online via the Members' Shop or email the order form below to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All SUMMER guide inquiries to Galina Marinov This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Members read more ...BookPeople Buying Group is an opt-in monthly subscription group-buying service for members developed to help member booksellers improve their businesses by achieving better trading terms with publishers. It is designed primarily for independent booksellers who do not benefit from franchise central buying.
BookPeople Buying Group provides:
3. Inclusion of members in the curation of group marketing
Includes:
The Reading Guides and Monthly Newsletters are optional marketing assets that can be ordered by all members. Booksellers can choose to customise these resources with their store header.
The Buying Group is open to member booksellers who are not part of other buying services. Booksellers who choose to become part of the buyng group need to sign a service and non-disclosure agreement and pay a monthly subscription fee.
For more information including fees members can log in to the FAQs below or please contact: Galina Marinov, Buying Group Manager P: 0414 166 203 or E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Member testimonials
‘Being a member of BookPeople is an essential for bookstore owners. There are many reasons for this such as the support and feeling of community as well as the amazing deals that BookPeople negotiate for us on monthly titles.
We have increased our GP margin by 2.5% since being part of the group, which is a great addition to our bottom line. But it is the support in terms of the people who are there when we need them that is the biggest benefit.
We couldn’t be without BookPeople as they are an integral part of our business’.
Chris Lysaght,
Owner and Store Manager, Viva Books, Busselton WA
‘Apart from the advocacy to publishers, savings on great quality marketing materials and excellent discounts negotiated by the Book People team I truly appreciate the “brains trust” they provide.’
Karen Ferris,
Order Manager, Berkelouw and Harry Hartog stores, NSW
‘The Bookshop Darwin is excited to be part of the BookPeople Buying Group. Being part of a buying group helps independent bookshops like ours connect with suppliers, publishers, and other independent bookshops. It gives us the opportunity to shape and improve our industry with ongoing communication, as well as learn from our peers and share ideas that work well. We look forward to seeing what BookPeople achieve next!
Sean Guy,
Order Manager, The Bookshop Darwin, NT
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) is a national charity of the Australian Book Industry, working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander remote Communities across Australia. The ILF is Community-led, responding to requests from remote Communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice.
In remote Communities across Australia, there is often no infrastructure such as libraries or bookstores. Access to reading material is extremely limited and this impacts the achievements of Indigenous children.
ILF supports remote Communities with three programs, Book Buzz, Book Supply and Community Publishing Projects.
Book Supply 2023 Book Lists
Outcomes
Since 2011, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation has
The ILF warmly welcomes photos and stories of bookshops fundraising to share on their social pages.
If you have other ideas on how you can support ILF, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) will be held on 6 September 2023 and is a celebration of the diversity of First Nations Peoples' Stories, Cultures and Languages.
Following the film, viewers are invited to stay online for a 45‑minute livestream celebration directly from the Sydney Opera House, with a star‑studded team of ILF Ambassadors ‑ Jessica Mauboy, Justine Clarke, Gregg Dreise, Josh Pyke and more!
Visit https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/ild for more information.
Other ways to engage
ILD assets can be found at https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/ild-2023-resources
Please visit this page to see all assets you may use to promote ILF.
PLEASE NOTE: BookPeople have a new Gift Card scheme click here for more details or call the BookPeople office on 03 9859 7322
Although we are no longer selling Australian Book Vouchers BookPeople will continue guarantees bookshops, whether BookPeople members or not, that once they have exchanged vouchers for books, an agreed monetary amount will be reimbursed on the return of the voucher until the 'valid to' date stamped on the voucher.
To be accepted for reimbursement an Australian Book Voucher must:
Reimbursement
Members read more ...
BookPeople recently launched a new gift card scheme called BookPeople Gift Cards. The new scheme replaces the previous scheme, Australian Book Vouchers.
The new BookPeople Gift Cards will provide book consumers a user-friendly experience to purchase and manage either physical or digital gift cards, with the ability to keep up to date with the tracking of the order, view their gift card balance and full transaction history online.
Member bookshops and other participating bookshops will be able to redeem all or part of a customer’s gift card through an online portal. Stores will also be able to check balances on behalf of customers. We are testing a full integration with CirclePos and are in discussion with Ebility about integration. Booknet currently cannot integrate with our Gift Cards.
If you have an enquiry about processing a gift card you can call the Gift Card help desk on 1300 554 268
Reimbursement
Bookshops will be reimbursed on the 15th of each month, minus 6.8%(+GST) administration costs. All transactions are recorded in our system and reported on monthly. Bookshops need to record the transaction against a tender type (BookPeople Gift Card is the logical name) and redeem the value of the voucher online through your unique login. We will provide all bookshops with a manual. This can also be found here: hyperlink
Can I order and sell BookPeople Gift Cards?
Currently BookPeople Gift Cards are only available for consumers to purchase direct form the BookPeople gift card website, we will be launching instore sales of BookPeople Gift Cards to BookPeople members in 2023.
(note this is our old scheme, which has valid vouchers in the market).
BookPeople guarantees bookshops, whether BookPeople members or not, that once they have exchanged vouchers for books, an agreed monetary amount will be reimbursed on the return of the voucher to BookPeople.
To be accepted for reimbursement an Australian Book Voucher must:
Reimbursement
Make significant savings on domestic and international eParcel rates with BookPeople's Australia Post eParcel scheme. Sign up for an Australia Post BookPeople sub-account to send orders to customers, as well as returns to suppliers and publishers.
The BookPeople Kids' Reading Guide Summer 2024 -2025 is 32 pages of the best books for young readers of all ages from Baby & Toddlers through to YA. All titles in the guide are selected and reviewed by booksellers and young readers.
Printed on high quality 100 gsm paper, the A5, 32 page full-colour guide features new releases from late September to December. The selection has been curated by a panel of BookPeople booksellers.
Booksellers who have booked for the guide receive:
You can order copies online via the Members' Shop or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All Kid's Reading Guide inquiries to Robyn Huppert This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Kids' Reading Guide is part of the BookPeople yearly marketing program and Loyalty Rebate Incentive, which includes three seasonal guides (Autumn, Summer and Summer editions) and the Kids’ Reading Guide Winter and Summer editions.
Members - log in for the order form, title list, and details of the incentive rebate.
Members read more ...Let’s celebrate the role bookshops play in fostering our imaginations this Love Your Bookshop Day, Saturday 12th October 2024
Bookshops offer people much more than a book. They present limitless portals to different worlds. Visiting a bookshop provides people with an opportunity to be transported to wherever they want to go, maybe it’s climbing a multi-storey treehouse to find the marshmallow machine, a trip to the outer edges of the universe exploring Arrakis, or even back in time to watch the first pages of the Oxford dictionary come together. Wherever we want to go, we can get there via our local bookshop.
Love Your Bookshop Day 2024 (LYBD 2024) celebrates the unique role our local bookshops play in helping to expand our worlds by ‘Giving the Gift of Imagination’.
This year, let’s remind everyone of the unlimited worlds and opportunities that exist in their local bookshop. Get involved by sharing your activities across social media on the day and tagging #loveyourbookshop #LYBD2024.
Please also notify us in the lead up of any events you are planning to run by emailing Robyn Huppert, Communication Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Laura Sedgwick, Public Relations Consultant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you have any further questions please get in contact with the BookPeople team via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Love Your Bookshop Day is an annual celebration of everything local bookshops do from fostering expert staff and curating fabulous ranges to creating events programs to celebrate authors, readers and the books they cherish.
The key to a successful Love Your Bookshop Day is a great party and the BookPeople supports members in running successful events by providing a comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign, FOC point of sales packs, custom promotional bags and items for purchase, a dedicated Love Your Bookshop website. and downloadable resources.
BookPeople also assists by liaising with publishers and other industry-related partners to provide authors and other exciting opportunities for in-store events.
In conjunction with the Australian Publishers Association, the BookPeople holds the Children’s Bookselling and Publishing Seminars.
Currently in hiatus, these are practical and professional development events aimed at bookselling professionals interested in learning more about children’s books and publishing.
Thanks to everyone for taking part in the BookPeople conference and publisher presentation day, especially to all our wonderful speakers and sponsors. Please check out the conference side sessions, author videos and award speeches pages.The conference sessions will be available on 'catch up' to registered delegates and member stores in the coming days.
BookPeople's free weekly e-newsletter offers time-sensitive coverage of book industry news and retail, technology and government issues. It also includes BookPeople advocacy updates, and classified ads, and highlights any BookPeople members in the news.
“BookPeople e-newsletter is a terrific tool that gives real support to booksellers. Each newsletter has heaps of helpful information about our industry, useful ideas that are easy to implement, and some solid reminders about good practice. We have used much of the information to improve our performance at Riverbend. This is a great service for booksellers.” – Suzy Wilson, Riverbend Books, QLD.
The BookPeople News is delivered to members' inboxes every Thursday afternoon.
Log in to the members' shop to purchase the following:
Visit the store to order copies of the upcoming editions of the Kids' Reading Guide and Seasonal Reading Guides
Order a range of wholesale-priced quality plain and carry brown paper and calico bags, featuring the ‘Eat, Sleep, Read Local’ branding.
BookPeople has a range of wholesale priced eye-catching stickers that can help draw attention to specific titles in your store. Browse through the range and see how they can help you with in-store promotions.
Bestsellers include Staff Favourite and Signed Copy.
Bookings for training days and Christmas parties
Thursday 7th November
Act Local, Impact Global
We’ve all seen it: global events reshaping our daily lives, sometimes in surprising ways. But what if we could turn this around and make a local action resonate worldwide? “Act Local, Think Global” seems like a beautiful, lofty goal but often feels out of reach.
That’s where the Global Book Crawl steps in. Happening during the last week of April 2025, the Global Book Crawl is a call to indie bookstores worldwide to organise local “book crawls” in their areas, where readers visit several nearby bookshops in a single day. It’s a fun, accessible, community-driven event that’s easy to set up and even easier to enjoy.
The twist? With book crawls occurring worldwide and a shared hashtag, #globalbookcrawl, these local gatherings become part of something much larger. Together, they celebrate the unique spirit of indie bookshops, linking readers and bookstores across the globe. You’re part of your local scene but also a global movement.
Our Mission and Vision
The Global Book Crawl is guided by a straightforward yet powerful vision: to forge connections, collaborate, and elevate the reader experience by building a global indie bookshop network. By working together, we can offer something unique that strengthens local communities and ignites a worldwide movement.
A Growing Network
Since its start, the Global Book Crawl has united indie bookstores worldwide. Bookshops from the USA, Spain, Mexico, Ireland, Australia, Sweden, Italy, and Peru have already confirmed to join, and invitations are still being sent to more countries. Each city involved brings its unique flavour to the crawl, adding to the richness of the experience.
Why Participate? What’s in It for Indie Bookshops?
Joining the Global Book Crawl brings value beyond a one-day event. Participating bookshops gain a chance to connect with new readers, increase their visibility, and contribute to a global celebration showcasing indie bookshops' diversity and vibrancy. Best of all, this initiative is straightforward—it doesn’t demand extensive resources, just a welcoming attitude and a desire to connect with readers.
A key aspect of this initiative is the media buzz it can generate, both on social media and traditional platforms. By using #globalbookcrawl, we amplify each bookshop’s reach, attracting potential new customers who might normally lean toward large online retailers or major chains.
We encourage Australian bookshops to participate and enjoy the benefits of international exposure. This will draw in local book lovers and visitors eager to discover one-of-a-kind stores. Plus, participating opens doors to connecting with bookstores worldwide, sharing insights, collaborating on future projects, and exploring new opportunities.
Why It Matters
In a time when large online retailers dominate, indie bookshops are more vital than ever. We’re more than just stores; we’re spaces for community, connection, and discovery. The Global Book Crawl is a way to shine a light on these spaces, encouraging people to rediscover the joy of browsing in-store and connecting with those who curate the shelves. Each local event contributes to a larger impact, proving the resilience and importance of independent bookshops globally.
If you’re an indie bookseller who wants to celebrate what makes your store special while being part of something bigger, whether you’re based in Sydney, Melbourne, or any other part of Australia, the Global Book Crawl is for you. Join us in April 2025 and help turn this into a worldwide celebration, one local bookshop at a time. It’s a simple yet powerful idea that brings communities together.
Get Involved
Getting involved is easy. Bookshops can register at our website (https://www.globalbookcrawl.org) and start planning local crawls. The Global Coordination Team, Jessica Stockton-Bagnulo (Greenlight Books, Brooklyn, USA), Brid Conroy (Tertulia Bookshop, Westport, Ireland), and Federico Lang (Librería Luces, Málaga, Spain), is here to provide resources and guidance to help make every crawl a success.
Federico Lang from Librería Luces, co-founder of the Global Book Crawl and the Independent Booksellers International Club (IBIC). Based in Málaga, Spain, he has been a bookseller for over two decades and is passionate about building connections within the global indie bookselling community.
Thursday 10th October
Audiobooks are becoming big business fast. I’m given to understand that the audio market has grown by double digits every year for more than a decade, and it’s been with some trepidation that I’ve watched these figures. At what point, I wondered, will that tip over and start cannibalising print book sales? A chilling question for a career bookseller. And the broader question is also pressing: what should one make of the rise and rise of audiobooks?
It’s a question that’s personal as well as professional, for I listen to them too. It was a slow start: I dabbled a little over the years, but found my mind would wander and I would lose track of the narrative and come back wondering what was happening and to whom. What eventually changed it for me was the birth of my second son: suddenly found myself spending long stretches of time standing or pacing as I tried to rock him to sleep, and I started to wonder whether maybe I hadn't missed something in my previous attempts at audio. I tried again, and it stuck.
The big thing that strikes me is that listening is such a different activity to reading. We all of us listeners suffer from some verb confusion, because it feels so wrong to say a sentence like “I listened to Kafka’s Metamorphosis” – it sounds so fundamentally unserious, especially with ‘serious’ literature, even though this feeling doesn’t entirely stand up to scrutiny – but it’s also at some level misleading to say that you’ve ‘read’ it, for reading is one of the deepest acts of the imagination: from marks on a page, the mind has to bring to life not only the basic meanings of the words but also their tone, manner, style, pace and voice. How these questions get resolved is a collaborative work between reader and writer, and this interdependence makes the work of reading fundamentally personal. To have read a book is to have brought it to life.
An audiobook, on the other hand, comes to you with some of this work already done. The narrator has had to make decisions about what tone is being employed, what each character sounds like (if it is fiction), how particular lines are to be delivered, the presence or absence of irony, and a host of other small details that are under-specified by the very nature of a text. This has upsides and downsides. My experience is that it certainly makes things easier, as the audiobook comes to you partially pre-digested. A good narrator can also put on a bravura performance: the high point of my listening career thus far has been Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov as produced by Penguin and narrated by Luke Thompson (of Bridgerton fame!) – the way he weaves together distinct and perfectly realised voices for each character has to be heard to be believed (especially the father – you can hear his jowls as he speaks, doubly impressive because Thompson is a heartthrob and demonstrably does not have jowls). But this makes audiobooks by their nature more like an extremely faithful screen adaptation – granting of course that you still have to do the imaginative work of picturing what needs picturing yourself – than like the raw imaginative experience of sitting with a book: it’s a supplement to the written work, a version of it, not a replacement for it. (Incidentally, given I mentioned it earlier, I can also heartily recommend Benedict Cumberbatch’s radio play version of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, which he did for BBC Radio 4 – he very much has the right voice for it.)
It's also something you do at a different time to reading. Reading remains far and away my favourite thing to do as soon as I am free to do as I please. By contrast, I'd never just sit on the couch and listen to an audiobook: I’ve tried, but my mind wanders, and I get bored. An audiobook is great in the car, or while out for a walk, folding the laundry, or settling a baby to sleep. It's not for nothing that Audible's billboards all riff on the idea of listening while doing mundane tasks: enlivening the everyday by giving the mind something to do while your body is otherwise occupied is what audiobooks are for. In many ways they are more like competition for podcasts than they are for print books. And this is a recurrent theme when I talk to people about this: very many people do as I do, and treat audio and print books as complementary. It’s a way of continuing to engage with books at moments when you can’t read, or to engage with those books you never otherwise get around to. Publishers also tell me that they’re not seeing evidence of audio cannibalising print: it’s being taken up by some combination readers looking for more, and a new market of people who weren’t reading anyway.
I mentioned Audible, which was the other barrier to me getting into audio. Audible, you probably know, is owned by Amazon, and the very idea of subscribing to an Amazon company made me feel icky – I did do it, not seeing any other option, but I didn't like it. What has changed in the past year or so is that rival audiobook subscription company Libro.FM has entered the Australian market. The short version is this: when you subscribe to Libro, you nominate an independent bookshop and Libro then splits a portion of the proceeds with your nominated bookshop. Splendid! This is great news for those of us booksellers who would like to be able to recommend particular recordings of books (like the Kafka and the Dostoyevsky I mentioned above) but haven’t been able to until now. And it’s great news for those of you who would prefer to feel like your listening habits are feeding back into the literary ecosystem.
There are a couple of things that have prompted me to actually get around to bringing Libro up (we’ve been doing audiobooks with them for a year now). First, they’re currently running a campaign where if you sign up to a monthly subscription, they’ll give you two bonus audiobook credits. Second, Libro has gone all Willy Wonka, and they have given us a golden ticket, which will be hidden somewhere at Fullers on Love Your Bookshop Day (Saturday 12 October), and if you’re the lucky person who finds it you’ll win 12 free audiobook credits. Sweet!
If you’d like to see more about Libro, or you’d like to sign up, just follow this link.
Tim Jervis, Fullers Bookshop owner and BookPeople President
Thursday 22nd August
Save the Date - 14-16 June 2025.
We are delighted to announce that next year’s conference and trade exhibition will take place in Brisbane!
Mark your calendars for an inspiring weekend as we bring the industry together once again in beautiful, sunny Brisbane. The event will kick off at midday on Saturday, June 14th, and run through to lunchtime on Monday, June 16th, 2025.
We can’t wait to see you all in Brisbane!
Thursday 4th July
The weekend of 15-17 June saw booksellers across Australia flock together to attend the annual BookPeople conference, this year celebrating 100 years of the industry association for bookshops. Reflections from bookselling veterans found the plight of the bookseller largely unchanged over a century: the drive for better publisher terms, the persnickety customer, and the looming threat of the digital, be it eBooks or AI. So too were we glad to find that books are still beloved recession-proof sources of stories and the shops in which we work to sell them, based on the innovation, collegiality and excellence seen over the weekend, are in no danger of becoming extinct.
BookPeople CEO Robbie Egan welcomed us on Saturday afternoon at the Pullman on the Park with an update on the recent discussions on the net book agreement, the curtailing of deep discounting and the potentials for political lobbying. He reminded us of the success the UK Booksellers Association have had with their Book Tokens, a campaign that proves the collective power of bookshops, and one we have an opportunity to make our own with Australia’s equivalent — the BookPeople Gift Cards. He reminded us that bookshops are just as much their own technological marvels, acting as natural gateways to other worlds just as much as one’s iPhone.
Our opening keynote Nardi Simpson then took to the lectern to greatly move the room with a snippet from her new novel The Belburd (Hachette) out in October. She spoke on reconciling literary freedom with cultural obligation and walking alongside the belburd on sites integral to the Australian identity — Bennelong Point and the Barangaroo waterfront. Nardi’s address was a forceful and welcome reminder of just how powerful a role fiction can play in our lives.
Nic Bottomley of Mr B’s Emporium in Bath followed with his experiences of taking the risk of opening a small bookshop with two people and building it into one of the UK’s most awarded establishments with over twenty staff. Forging into battle against the likes of Amazon and deep discounters, Mr B’s wields customer service as a bookshop’s unique weapon, encouraging infectious enthusiasm, creative marketing ideas, and chatting about books at all times between the shop’s shelves.
Anna Burkey of Australia Reads and Bianca Whiteley of Nielsen BookData then gave us their annual data-rich updates. Bianca explained that 2024’s consumers may be cautious, but not about their book buying, with sales up in the double digits compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Indeed, 2023 was the third highest year on record for Australia’s book market. Yet, as Anna reported, alongside these high numbers runs a parallel statistic, that 44% of Australians have a low level of literacy and one-third of young adults do not consider reading fun or pleasurable. Booksellers know all too well how important it is to get stories into the hands of people who need them, and as Australia Reads proposes, a National Reading Strategy initiative would be widely welcomed.
A star-studded cast of booksellers soon took to the stage, and we were treated with a reflective discussion from Association life members David Gaunt, Mark Rubbo, Fiona Stager, and Suzy Wilson. Mark and David reminisced on early lobbying against censorship, copyright and supporting local publishers, and Fiona and Suzy spoke on how the generous, collegiate nature of the industry meant that people who should be fierce competitors were actually each other's greatest allies.
Our first evening concluded with an iconic Australian face — Noni Hazlehurst speaking on her new memoir, Dropping the Mask (HarperCollins) out in October. With warmth and humour, Noni moved us with tales of craft, family and legacy, leaving all in the room eager to press her book into customer hands come October.
Day two was kickstarted by an energetic bookseller ideas exchange session where we were pitched ideas from search-and-find windows to pay-it-forward vouchers, and mystery author dinners. Pauline McLeod from Margaret River Bookshop took home the well-deserved popular vote for their Reading Rabbits initiative that rewards young library borrowers with a bookshop voucher after reaching their goal. Further inspiration came in the form of genre-experts Belinda Cunningham and Megan McPheat from Harry Hartog and associate professor and author Amy T Matthews, who spoke on shadow daddies, infinitely varied and creative sub-genres, and how best to leverage the popular, reflexive, and extraordinarily lucrative romance genre in your bookshop.
Booksellers then swapped their panel chairs with writers, and we heard from the other side of the manuscript, with novelists Jessie Tu, Malcolm Knox and Jacqueline Bublitz giving us an insight into to their writing practice and sneak peeks of their exciting new novels out just in time for Christmas selling later this year.
We turned to the state of Indigenous publishing and storytelling in Australia, with ILF founder Suzy Wilson, ILF head of publishing Nicola Robinson, award-winning author Debra Dank, and Magabala Books CEO Lilly Brown celebrating and reflecting on the role of the ILF, the seed of which was planted at a Booksellers’ Association Conference, and the importance of Indigenous publishing for all Australians.
Booksellers then got to stretch their legs around the bustling trade exhibition and load their bags with this year’s exciting Christmas new releases, as well as meeting authors, Miffy the rabbit hosted by Text Publishing, and, making a trip all the way from Paris, Claris the Mouse courtesy of Hardie Grant.
After the trade exhibition, Gina Chick arrived to a starstruck room and left not a dry eye in the house, describing her experience on Alone Australia, and the childhood of books, literary family legacy and memories full of tragedy and wonder that have fuelled her new memoir We are the Stars, out with Summit Books in October.
Clare Wright kicked off our glamorous evening schedule with an introduction to her new book Naku Dharuk: The Bark Petitions before our gracious MC Alice Zaslavsky introduced Tim Winton to the Gala Dinner stage to give us an exclusive sneak peek of perhaps the most anticipated book of the year. The limited-edition slipcase proofs of Juice revealed from under a tablecloth were a decided highlight of the night.
Legendary Australian musician Kasey Chambers received a standing ovation for her breathtaking musical interlude, and we were delighted to learn of her upcoming memoir Just Don't Be a D**khead, out in October with Hardie Grant.
It was then awards time, with bookseller favourites Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko (UQP) winning Fiction Book of the Year, Wifedom by Anna Funder (Hamish Hamilton) winning Non-Fiction Book of the Year and Sophie Blackall’s If I was a Horse (Lothian Children’s Books) winning Children’s Book of the Year.
The bookseller awards were then celebrated with gusto — Matt Davis of The Bookshop at Queenscliff received Bookseller of the Year, Madeleine Delany of Fullers Bookshop won Young Bookseller of the Year and Kat Matthews of Mary Martin Bookshop took home Children’s Bookseller of the Year. Legendary booksellers Ian and Meredith Horton of Farrells Bookshop, and Tim White of Books for Cooks were celebrated for their long service to the craft of bookselling and inducted as BookPeople Life Members.
Our booksellers returned to the foyer on Monday morning to be rejuvenated by a panel of master children's booksellers including Erin Wamala of The Kids’ Bookshop, Sophie Reid of Fullers, and writer Judith Rossell. With lively and engaged participation from the bookseller audience, the room discussed gaps in children’s publishing, strategies to encourage a love of reading from a young age, and the difficulty in securing media spaces for children’s books. Judith’s rollicking new middle-grade book out in October, The Midwatch, (Hardie Grant) is sure to get kids excited about reading.
We then were treated by a panel of crime writing experts with Angie Faye Martin winner of the 2019 HQ/Flinders University Commercial Fiction Fellowship for First Nation Writers, award-winning author and screenwriter Christian White, and the legendary Michael Robotham reflecting on how the genre has changed over the decades.
The rest of the day was jam-packed with bookseller advice, ideas and mirth. Tim Jarvis of Fullers Bookshop, Emily Westmoreland of Avenue Bookshop, CEO of Hachette Australia Louise Stark, Publisher at MUP Foong Ling Kong, author Christos Tsiolkas and lawyer Josh Bornstein were led with deft humour by Robert Skinner through hypotheticals that featured everything from a controversial Miles Franklin shortlist, AI ethics, print runs, public nudity and Melbourne’s public transport system.
Laura Sedgwick of Sedgwick Communications, international guest Nic Bottomley and Anna MacDonald Melbourne’s Paperback Bookshop then took a deep dive into finding, nurturing and marketing the story of each independent bookshops' unique identity.
To finish off a very special weekend, the beloved Robbie Arnott gave a closing keynote on the moving family legacy behind his forthcoming novel Dusk, out with Macmillan in October.
If one theme could be picked out running strong over the weekend, it was the importance of children’s literature. With the data on low literacy and strong sales found by organisations like the ILF, Nielsen BookData and Australia Reads under our belts, Australian booksellers are working hard to find unique and interesting ways to help kids develop a love of books that will help them grow into healthy and creative adults, those who will, hopefully, go on to love and support their local bookshops.
Thursday 2nd May
In February, I was fortunate to travel to Chicago as part of a RISE Bookseller Exchange program, an initiative aimed at strengthening the sharing of information across the global bookselling community. My destination: Anderson's in Naperville, Illinois, a revered institution in the realm of independent bookstores. This opportunity, facilitated by RISE, was the most wonderful week of learning and sharing, and truly reinforced why I love working in bookselling so much.
Read more ...Saturday 10th February
Opinion - The Age/SMH
Raymond Bonner
In his inaugural State of the Arts oration, Minister Tony Burke lauded the “history and legacy” of Labor’s commitment to the arts, tracing it back to Gough Whitlam.
Burke faulted recent Coalition governments for defunding many cultural programs. Writers have been “the most underfunded”, he added.
The Labor government has pledged $286 million to support the arts, the centre of its national cultural policy, which it has dubbed Revive.
It all sounds wonderful. But there is a glaring omission from Labor’s policy in Burke’s speech: how do you support writers if the market for their books is being steadily destroyed?
Read more ...Thursday 25th January
This year our Health of Business report comes off the back of repeat surveys in 2021/2022. It is always good practice to compare periods and back-to-back reports given with this opportunity. With all the pressures booksellers face it is helpful to step back and consider those things we can control. The Health of Business Report provides information on various income and cost aspects of respondent’s businesses, their inventory mix, staffing, and the factors that contribute to profitability.
Members can log in below to access a copy of the report.
Members read more ...Friday 8th December
Although we are no longer selling the Australian Book Vouchers, any vouchers still in circulation can be redeemed by bookshops. BookPeople will continue to guarantee bookshops that once they have exchanged a valid dated Australian Book Voucher for goods, an agreed monetary amount will be reimbursed on the return of the voucher.
It is important to remind staff to accept both Australian Book Vouchers and the new BookPeople Gift Cards whilst we are in this transition phase.
More information can be found here
There are now thousands of the new BookPeople Gift Cards in circulation with many more to come as the gift-giving season gets into full swing. Ensure you don't lose a sale because you don't know what to do.
Download this easy-to-follow step-by-step guide complete with screenshots and who to contact if you get stuck.
For any questions please contact the BookPeople office.
More information can be found here
Tuesday 18th June
BookPeople is delighted to announce the winners of the BookPeople 2023 Bookseller of the Year Awards announced at the BookPeople Conference Gala Dinner and Awards Night in Melbourne on Sunday 16 June.
The BookPeople Penguin Random House Australia Young Bookseller of the Year Award recognises and rewards the excellence of a bookseller 35 or under and promotes bookselling as a career choice for young people. This award gives booksellers the chance to be recognised by the book industry for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores as well as the local and wider community.
The Penguin Random House Young Bookseller of the Year 2024 winner is: Madeleine Delany, Fullers Bookshop
The BookPeople Hardie Grant Children's Publishing Bookseller of the Year Award recognises individual children's specialist booksellers for their outstanding achievements in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop that they work in but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to be recognised by the book industry for innovation, excellence and career achievements.
The Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Children’s Bookseller of the Year 2024 winner is: Katherine Martin, Mary Martin Bookshop
The BookPeopleText Publishing Bookseller of the Year Award recognises an individual bookseller for their outstanding achievement in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop that they work in but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to be recognised by the book industry for innovation, excellence and career achievements.
The Text Bookseller of the Year 2024 the winner is: Matt Davis, The Bookshop Queenscliff
Read more ...March 2023
BookPeople's gift cards are the culmination of several years’ work and an important step for your Association in modernising a key activity. Driving people to your bookshops is the focus of the program, and the more liquidity we can inject into our market the more we all benefit. Through BookPeople’s ongoing promotional program we will continue to build the profile of our industry and the cultural importance of books and reading.
Tuesday 18th June
BookPeople is delighted to announce the winners of the BookPeople 2024 Book of the Year Awards announced at the BookPeople Conference Gala Dinner and Awards Night in Melbourne on Sunday 16 June.
The BookPeople Book of the Year Awards recognise the Australian books published in 2023 that our booksellers have selected as their favourite books to personally recommend as part of their ongoing commitment to bring writers and readers together. These awards celebrate the unique role played by booksellers in sharing their knowledge and passion with communities across the country.
Previous winners include Limberlost by Robbie Arnott, The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton, Reckoning: A Memoir by Magda Szubanski, All That I Am by Anna Funder, and The 52-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton.
BookPeople BookData - Adult Fiction Book of the Year
BookPeople BookData - Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year
BookPeople Kids' Reading Guide - Children's Book of the Year
You can view the latest guide on the Reading Guide website.
See the latest newsletters here.
All ABA-produced marketing material seeks the involvement and contribution of BookPeople Buying Group booksellers in the curation of titles. Books promoted in the guides and newsletters are available to purchase at extra terms for Buying Group members and supported via the BookPeople and Kids’ Reading Guide social media channels.
More information and FAQs are available on the Buying Group page.
If you have any questions, contact Galina by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., P: 0414 166 203.
Thursday 22th August
Place your orders now for the BookPeople Reading Guide SUMMER 24 edition, arriving in store in early November.
The guide itself will be A4, 20 pages full colour and printed on high quality 90gsm matt paper. It will cover new releases from late September to December and some key January 25 publications.
The cover (in the BookPeople branding and design) will feature artwork taken from the jacket of Tim Winton’s Juice, published by Hamish Hamilton (October 24).
Features include:
Titles in the SUMMER guide are selected and reviewed by booksellers for booksellers and their customers.
ALL BookPeople members are welcome to order the guides.
The SUMMER guide is part of the BookPeople reading guides Loyalty Rebate Incentive, log in below for more details.
You can order copies online via the Members' Shop or email the order form below to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All SUMMER guide inquiries to Galina Marinov This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Members read more ...Thursday 22nd August
Kids’ Reading Guide Summer 2024 - 2025
Introducing the debut print edition of the Winter edition of the Kids' Reading Guide! 20 pages of the top picks for children of all ages selected and reviewed by booksellers.
Printed on high quality 100 gsm paper, the A5, 32 page full-colour guide features new releases from late September to December. The selection has been curated by a panel of BookPeople booksellers.
Booksellers who have booked for the guide receive:
You can order copies online via the Members' Shop or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
All Kid's Reading Guide inquiries to Robyn Huppert This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Kids' Reading Guide is part of the BookPeople yearly marketing program and Loyalty Rebate Incentive, which includes three seasonal guides (Autumn, Summer and Summer editions) and the Kids’ Reading Guide Winter and Summer editions.
Members - log in for the order form, title list, and details of the incentive rebate.
Members read more ...Through the partnership of Dell Technologies and BookPeople, members can now access a range of discounts on selected technology products.
These include:
Log in to download your member access coupon plus view the offer terms.
Members read more ...BookPeople bookshop members enjoy the benefits of an NRA Essential Membership with access to a suite of membership benefits, including:
Unlimited telephone advice for non-complex queries from the experienced workplace relations advisors and advocates of NRA Legal in relation to a diverse range of employment and workplace relations issues including, but not limited to:
Access to the extensive online member resource base of fact sheets and templates, forms and checklists, wage rates, webinars and helpful links. Log in below to access the portal.
Discounted rates for complex workplace relations matters. Access to NRA's specialist advisors and lawyers is available to members at competitive rates, often 50% lower than the top law firms.
Specialist telephone advice on all tenancy and related issues including matters relating to tenant’s rights under a shop lease or as prescribed by relevant retail shop lease legislation. The NRA can also assist in the drafting, renewal, and negotiation of leases and liaising with landlords at discounted member rates.
Log in below to access the portal and additional information about benefits.
Members read more ...Make significant savings on domestic and international eParcel rates with the BookPeople member's Australia Post eParcel scheme. Sign up to an Australia Post BookPeople sub-account to send orders to customers, as well as returns to suppliers and publishers.
Shop for Shops is Australia’s leading retailer of shop fittings, shelving and display solutions. With a vast range of off the shelf products and tailored custom solutions, Shop for Shops provides customers with quality, practical solutions. Generous discounts are available for BookPeople Members.
Members read more ...CirclePOS member $100 cash-back offer.
CirclePOS produces a complete point of sale, stock management and online sale solution for booksellers. It is ideal for bricks and mortar stores that want to be online, but don't want the hassle of managing a website and the shop floor independently.
With CirclePOS, all sales (in-store or online), are managed through a single cloud-based system that is accessible from anywhere. It knits with existing business systems for email, accounting and EFTPOS and functions on any device.
Are you a BookPeople member and signing up with CirclePOS? Log in for the offer link.
Members read more ...The all-in-one BookPeople business insurance package combines typical coverage options into a standard package. Pay one single premium, priced significantly less than separately purchased coverage. Correspond with one specialist broker for further simplicity.
Let Cover Force (formally PPIS) take care of your insurance and receive the following benefits:
BookPeople partnership with Tyro offers members very competitive rates on Merchant services, EFTPOS rental and access accounts.
A custom deal will be tailored to you to make sure you receive the lowest possible rates plus take advantage of Tyro's great reporting functionalities.
Please contact the BookPeople office This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details.
BookPeople has an excellent member discount freight deal with digital freight management company Couriers & Freight.
Couriers & Freight is a comparison site that allows users to compare rates across multiply providers and then make pay as you go bookings. Users can either use the service for 'one-off' bookings or set up 'a pay as you go' or 7-day credit account with additional features such as stored addresses and reporting. The website is backed up by a IRL customer service team that can assist with bookings.
This service is ideal for sending multiple box returns to publishers or for smaller packages when Australia Post delays are a concern.
For the member DISCOUNT code plus 'pay as you go' or a 7-day credit account forms log in below.
Members read more ...Member stores will have the opportunity to reduce their payment processing fees and help support the arts, thanks to a partnership between the BookPeople and payment processing company ArtsPay.
ArtsPay is a new for-purpose payment processing company that uses the fees from every transaction to support the arts. Its mission is to build a sustainable new source of funding for independent artists and small arts organisations.
At least 50 per cent of the profits from ArtsPay will be distributed to small arts organisations and independent artists through a new charitable Foundation, the ArtsPay Foundation.
Members read more ...BookPeople members have access to a specialised rate system and use of Magnum Book Services’ consolidation services which not only simplifies the logistics process but provides cost-effective options.
Magnum Book Services has over forty years accumulated experience with global offices in Australia, UK and USA. They are specialists in handling books and offer shipping solutions tailored to the specific needs of the publishing industry. They offer air freight and sea freight consolidations both in and out of Australia, warehousing and distribution services and so much more.
When you contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. mention that you are a BookPeople member. An account can then be set up with Magnum Book Services
Magnum's full suite of services includes the following:
Members can view BookPeople's consolidated air and sea freight rates below.
Members read more ...BookPeople is a membership organisation, and we provide a range of services and advice to our members.
If you would like to become an individual member we can assist with finding an experienced bookseller mentor and other resources as you embark on setting up a bookshop. Please fill in an Application Form and we will be in contact.
Yes any bookshop can redeem an Australian Book Voucher.
BookPeople guarantees bookshops, whether BookPeople members or not, that once they have exchanged vouchers for books, an agreed monetary amount will be reimbursed on the return of the voucher until the 'valid to' date stamped on the voucher.
To be accepted for reimbursement an Australian Book Voucher must:
Reimbursement
This year our Health of Business report comes off the back of repeat surveys in 2021/2022. It is always good practice to compare periods and back-to-back reports given with this opportunity. With all the pressures booksellers face it is helpful to step back and consider those things we can control. The Health of Business Report provides information on various income and cost aspects of respondent’s businesses, their inventory mix, staffing, and the factors that contribute to profitability.
Members can log in below to access a copy of the report.
Members read more ...Towards a Sustainable Bookselling Future Paper
What does sustainability look like in the book industry, and what can we do for the future?
The BookPeople Sustainability Paper discusses the issue of environmental sustainability and bookselling, placing it within the context of the broader book industry. It’s a snapshot of where we are currently, and provides practical and peer advice on what can be worked on immediately to improve the environmental footprint of bookselling. It is intended to contribute to a conversation about larger and more radical changes within the book industry.
The audience for this paper is, foremost, Australian booksellers, but it is also intended for publishers, industry bodies, policymakers, and anyone interested in the impact of books on the environment and possible solutions.
Summary
BookPeople and Angela Meyer (author, editor and academic).
Download the full report - Towards a Sustainable Bookselling Future Paper
BookPeople bookshop members can enjoy the benefits of an NRA Essential Membership with access to a suite of membership benefits, including:
Unlimited telephone advice for non-complex queries from the experienced workplace relations advisors and advocates of NRA Legal in relation to a diverse range of employment and workplace relations issues including, but not limited to:
Access to the extensive online member resource base of fact sheets and templates, forms and checklists, wage rates, webinars and helpful links. Log in below to access the portal.
Discounted rates for complex workplace relations matters. Access to NRA's specialist advisors and lawyers is available to members at competitive rates, often 50% lower than the top law firms.
Specialist telephone advice on all tenancy and related issues including matters relating to tenant’s rights under a shop lease or as prescribed by relevant retail shop lease legislation. The NRA can also assist in the drafting, renewal, and negotiation of leases and liaising with landlords at discounted member rates.
Log in below to access the portal and additional information about benefits.
Members read more ...Members can log in for some useful bookseller resources including the 2024 BookPeople Wall Calendar, featuring in-store distributor dates, literary awards, and key book industry dates such as Book Week and Love Your Bookshop Day. Plus an updated list of key literary awards in Australia and overseas.
Members read more ...The importance of imagination: Understanding the state of Australia’s imagination and the role reading plays in fostering creativity.
This paper aims to better understand the state of the nation’s imagination and the role reading plays in fostering creativity. It has been commissioned by us at BookPeople and was conducted in partnership with research agency, YouGov. Analysis of the research has highlighted that there is a growing concern about the level in which we use our imagination in our day-to-day lives, with many Australians expressing their desire to use it more. This paper explores the nation’s use of imagination and the ways in which we can foster our creativity further. Books and reading give us access to infinite worlds, past and future histories, and are the best medium for exploring narratives and ideas. Whether we read for entertainment or information, reading generates a net benefit for our mental health and our understanding of the world.
Robbie Egan Chief Executive Officer BookPeople
Download the full report - Imagination Paper
Australia Council Literature Board
Australian and New Zealand Association of Antiquarian Booksellers
Australian Children's Laureate
Australian Publishers Association
Children's Book Council of Australia
Christian Bookselling Association Australia
e-Bility™ is a sophisticated and powerful business management system designed specifically for retail and distribution bookselling, music and stationery.
UniLink Data Systems is an Australian company that has been delivering quality software solutions for over 25 years.
Circle provides booksellers with a cloud-based book management system.
Computerlink develops comprehensive and innovative software for the retail environment.
BookMine is the complete, retail, supply chain and customer relationship management software solution for single and multi-store booksellers.
Nielsen Book provides a range of services to the book industry, aiding the discovery, purchase and sales measurement of books. They offer the largest and most comprehensive bibliographic database, BookData Online, with more than 35 million title records as well as a record supply service to populate bookseller, library and publisher websites.
PacStream enables booksellers and publishers to achieve efficiencies in the supply chain. PacStream allows retailers to send orders electronically to their suppliers and receive back acknowledgements and invoices.
TitlePage is the Australian book industry's online price and availability service. It allows publishers and distributors to offer current price, availability and stock information to booksellers and suppliers.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is responsible for the National Employment Standards (NES)
The National Employment Standards are 10 minimum conditions for ALL Australian employees. Together with the national minimum wage, they are a minimum safety net for employees.
They include minimum entitlements for leave, public holidays, notice of termination and redundancy pay. The NES does not deal with basic rates of pay and casual loadings, these are instead contained in modern awards.
The NES deals with 10 minimum conditions including;
Generally, the NES apply to all employees covered by the national system, including those to whom a workplace agreement made under the former legislation or enterprise agreement made under the Fair Work act applies.
Modern awards are able to supplement the NES in a limited number of circumstances specified in the NES, for example, to allow averaging of hours of work over a specified period. Otherwise, all of the provisions in the NES must be complied with.
Members log in for more information on the 10 minimum conditions.
Members read more ...
Have you visited the new Fair Work Ombudsman small business resource website?
fairwork.gov.au/small-business-showcase
This is a great resource and reference point for all aspects of workplace rights and obligations including:
Other useful links:
Employment can end for a variety of reasons. An employee may resign or can be dismissed. It is very important to know and apply the rules about dismissal, notice and final pay.
In Australia, dismissal is covered but the Fair Work Act and the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code.
The Small Business Fair Dismissal Code applies to small business employers in the national workplace relations system. A small business is defined as any business with fewer than 15 employees. This is calculated on a headcount of all employees who are employed on a regular and systematic basis. For details including the code and checklist visit: fwc.gov.au/about-us/legislation-regulations/small-business-fair-dismissal-code
The Fair Work Act covers workplaces with over 15 employees. fairwork.gov.au/about-us/legislation
Ending employment information for employers and employees can be found on the Fair Work Ombudsman website at: fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment
The two independent regulating bodies of Australia's workplaces are the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission (previously called Fair Work Australia)
Both have different roles as outlined below.
The Fair Work Ombudsman enforces compliance with the Fair Work Act 2009, related legislation, awards and registered agreements. They also help employers and employees by providing advice and education on pay rates and workplace conditions.
Key functions
The Fair Work Commission is the independent national workplace relations tribunal. It is responsible for maintaining a safety net of minimum wages and employment conditions, as well as a range of other workplace functions and regulation.
Key functions:
Along with the NES enterprise agreements, modern awards contain minimum entitlements for wages and conditions of employment.
Most enterprise agreements include:
Enterprise agreements cannot include unlawful content (such as discriminatory or objectionable terms).
If you are not covered by an agreement, your minimum wages and conditions are likely to be set by a modern award.
The modern award will deal with:
For more information visit: fairwork.gov.au/awards-and-agreements
BookPeople’s social channels are part of a wide community of publishers, authors, illustrators, bookstagrammers, and readers. We promote Australian bookshops, share literary industry news, run giveaways and competitions, and review books for our seasonal reading guides. Every October we celebrate Love Your Bookshop Day, an annual celebration of everything beloved local bookshops do for our communities.
We’re always keen to see how you support your favourite bookshop. Post pictures of your bookish purchases, your local bookstore, a review of a recent read, or shout out to the bookseller who recommended a book that changed your life. Tag us at @bookpeopleau and use the hashtag #loveyourbookshop.
Facebook: BookPeople
Instagram: @bookpeopleau
Twitter: @BookpeopleAU
The Kids’ Reading Guide brings together parents, teachers, librarians and children’s booksellers as a trusted resource for books and reviews that feature in the annual guide. The page also shares articles and inspiration for fostering a love of reading in children.
Facebook: KidsReadingGuide
Instagram: @kidsreadingguide
Twitter: @KRG_au
A closed Facebook group for members opens another channel of communication with the BookPeople and to other booksellers to cultivate the community that exists among bookshops. Members can request to join here
Literary award bodies across Australia are working together to create the 2021 literary event calendar. The calendar will continue to be updated as the dates for award announcements are confirmed.
Click on awards calendar to download a current copy.
The Booksellers' Choice 2022 Book of the Year Awards recognises the books that booksellers most enjoyed reading and handselling during 2021.
We believe this is a special award because it is decided by the people who personally recommend and care enough to put a book in the hands of the reading public.
The three categories are -
The winners will be announced on Sunday 12th June.
For more details visit https://www.abaconference.org.au/awards
BookPeople Penguin Random House Australia Young Bookseller of the Year award recognises and rewards the excellence of a bookseller 35 or under and promotes bookselling as a career choice for young people. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores as well as the local and wider community. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000.
Read more ...BookPeople Text Publishing Bookseller of the Year award recognises an individual bookseller for their outstanding achievement in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop that they work but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000.
Read more ...BookPeople in partnership with Hardie Grant Publishing is thrilled to announce a new Bookseller of the Year award.
BookPeople Hardie Grant Children's Publishing Bookseller of the Year award recognises individual children's specialist booksellers for their outstanding achievements in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop that they work in but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to be recognised by the book industry for innovation, excellence and career achievements. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000.
Read more ...For member redeeming information on the original Australian Book Vouchers scheme please click here
If you're not a BookPeople member store and would like information on redeeming Australian Book Vouchers, please click here
Give the gift of reading with BookPeople Gift Cards
Searching for the perfect gift? Look no further! BookPeople Gift and eGift Cards, give the ultimate gift of choice and the joy of discovering a new book. Accepted at hundreds of local and independent bookshops across Australia as well as online, these gift cards offer endless possibilities.
Unlock a world of stories in Australia's best independent bookshops
Celebrate life's special moments with a BookPeople Gift Card. Ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, academic achievements, or just because—treat the book lovers in your life to an unforgettable visit to their favourite local bookshop.
Why choose BookPeople Gift Cards?
As the industry association for Australian booksellers, BookPeople has championed local and independent bookshops for 100 years. Our member stores boast a diverse and expansive range of books, ensuring something for every reader. Plus, when you gift a BookPeople Gift Card, you're also supporting community-focused businesses. Now that's a win-win! Shop local, anywhere in Australia.
Get your BookPeople Gift Card today!
Don't miss the chance to bring smiles and enrich lives through the gift of reading. Click the button below to purchase your BookPeople Gift Card now.
Utilise our find a bookshop search for your closest store to redeem a BookPeople Gift Card.
Below is a summary of the key features of the new program.
Our program partner
Our partner Vii Solutions has plenty of experience in the book industry and larger retailers like Myer and Peter Alexander. Vii are there to assist us as we transition to the new system with video training plus an ongoing call centre to assist both you and your customers with any inquiries. BookPeople staff are also available during business hours to assist.
Availability and format
The cards, both in physical and digital format, will initially be available for consumers to purchase through the BookPeople gift card website, https://bookpeoplegiftcards.org.au
Later this year member stores will be able to sell the physical cards direct to customers.
The new gift cards can be partly or fully redeemed by a customer, which is an updated feature.
Steps to enable you to accept BookPeople Gift Cards
You will need to set up your POS to accept BookPeople Gift Cards:
Support your local communities with BookPeople corporate and educational gift cards
Enhance your corporate and academic recognition programs by choosing BookPeople Gift Cards, a socially responsible gifting option that benefits your local bookshops and communities.
Why BookPeople Gift Cards are the perfect choice for your business or school:
Special savings for educational institutions
Let students experience the joy of reading while maximizing your budget: Schools and universities are eligible for an exclusive 5% discount on BookPeople Gift Cards. It's our way of saying thank you for nurturing the next generation of thinkers and leaders!
Get started with purposeful gifting today
To discuss your specific gift card needs and how your purchase can make a difference, reach out to our dedicated team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Invest in a gift that matters. Choose BookPeople Gift Cards and take part in a gifting experience that enriches your organisation or school while contributing to the well-being of your local community.
Australian Book Vouchers have been superseded by BookPeople Gift Cards. Individual vouchers remain valid until the expiry date.
Australian Book Vouchers are valid for three years and accepted at over 500 physical bookshops including leading independent bookshops, Dymocks stores, Collins Booksellers and QBD. They are not enabled for online redemption.
If you are unable to visit a physical bookstore that accepts Australian Book Vouchers, please contact your local BookPeople member store to discuss options for redemption including posting the voucher to the store. Or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 03 9859 7322 for assistance.
Australian Book Vouchers terms and conditions
BookPeople owns and manages the Australian Book Voucher scheme ensuring funds are available to honour your Australian Book Vouchers through any of the participating bookshops.
Indigenous Literacy Day (ILD) will be held on 6 September 2023 and is a celebration of the diversity of First Nations Peoples' Stories, Cultures and Languages.
Following the film, viewers are invited to stay online for a 45‑minute livestream celebration directly from the Sydney Opera House, with a star‑studded team of ILF Ambassadors ‑ Jessica Mauboy, Justine Clarke, Gregg Dreise, Josh Pyke and more!
Visit https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/ild for more information.
Other ways to engage
ILD assets can be found at https://www.indigenousliteracyfoundation.org.au/ild-2023-resources
Please visit this page to see all assets you may use to promote ILF.
In conjunction with the Australian Publishers Association, BookPeople holds children’s bookselling and publishing seminars.
Designed to provide professional development and networking opportunities, the seminars are targeted toward publishing professionals and booksellers with a particular interest in children’s and YA books.
BookPeople annual awards night is held on the first night of the BookPeople's conference during the gala dinner.
The annual BookPeople conference is held in June each year. Starting mid-Saturday the conference takes place over three days with a welcome reception, an array of sessions, a celebratory gala dinner, and a dedicated trade exhibition. Members should watch the weekly e-news for announcements about the 2025 event.
Interested sponsors and exhibitors can reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. anytime for more information or to be added to the prospectus mailing list.
The dedicated conference website can be found at bookpeopleconference.org.au
Let’s celebrate the role bookshops play in fostering our imaginations this Love Your Bookshop Day, Saturday 12th October 2024
Bookshops offer people much more than a book. They present limitless portals to different worlds. Visiting a bookshop provides people with an opportunity to be transported to wherever they want to go, maybe it’s climbing a multi-storey treehouse to find the marshmallow machine, a trip to the outer edges of the universe exploring Arrakis, or even back in time to watch the first pages of the Oxford dictionary come together. Wherever we want to go, we can get there via our local bookshop.
Love Your Bookshop Day 2024 (LYBD 2024) celebrates the unique role our local bookshops play in helping to expand our worlds by ‘Giving the Gift of Imagination’.
This year, let’s remind everyone of the unlimited worlds and opportunities that exist in their local bookshop. Get involved by sharing your activities across social media on the day and tagging #loveyourbookshop #LYBD2024.
Please also notify us in the lead up of any events you are planning to run by emailing Robyn Huppert, Communication Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Laura Sedgwick, Public Relations Consultant at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you have any further questions please get in contact with the BookPeople team via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Love Your Bookshop Day is an annual celebration of everything local bookshops do from fostering expert staff and curating fabulous ranges to creating events programs to celebrate authors, readers and the books they cherish.
The key to a successful Love Your Bookshop Day is a great party and the BookPeople supports members in running successful events by providing a comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign, FOC point of sales packs, custom promotional bags and items for purchase, a dedicated Love Your Bookshop website. and downloadable resources.
BookPeople also assists by liaising with publishers and other industry-related partners to provide authors and other exciting opportunities for in-store events.
BookPeople is thrilled to announce the 2024 Book of the Year Awards shortlists, celebrating exceptional Australian literature published in 2023. These awards recognise outstanding works that have connected Australian writers with readers nationwide, underscoring the significance of booksellers in fostering a vibrant literary community. These awards honour the remarkable talents of Australian authors and celebrate the passionate booksellers who play a pivotal role in connecting these compelling stories with a wider audience.
BookPeople BookData - Adult Fiction Book of the Year
BookPeople BookData - Adult Non-Fiction Book of the Year
BookPeople Kids' Reading Guide - Children's Book of the Year
The winners will be announced at the BookPeople Gala Dinner and Awards Night on Sunday, June 16, at the Pullman Melbourne on the Park.
Read more ...BookPeople Penguin Random House Australia Young Bookseller of the Year award recognises and rewards the excellence of a bookseller 35 years of age or under and promotes bookselling as a career choice for young people. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores as well as the local and wider community. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000.
Madeleine Delany, Fullers Bookshop, Hobart TAS
Lexie Eatock, Better Read Than Dead, Newton NSW
Manuela Ocampo, The Book Cow Bookshop ACT
Evie Rashell, The Book Warehouse, Lismore NSW
Indianna Saunders-Shaw, Farrells Bookshop, Mornington VIC
Molly Smith, Readings Emporium, Melbourne VIC
BookPeople Hardie Grant Children's Publishing Children's Bookseller of the Year award recognises individual children's specialist booksellers for their outstanding achievements in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop they work in but also for their achievements within the book industry, and the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to be recognised by the book industry for innovation, excellence and career achievements. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000.
Jennifer Jackson, Paper Bird Children's Books & Art, Fremantle WA
Samantha Kelly, Readings Doncaster, Doncaster VIC
Allyx Lathrope, Books Kinokuniya, Sydney NSW
Katherine Matthews, Mary Martin Bookshop, Melbourne VIC
Pauline McLeod, Riverbend Books, Bulimba QLD
Anna Sheen, Quick Brown Fox Bookshop, Grange QLD
BookPeople Text Publishing Bookseller of the Year award recognises an individual bookseller for their outstanding achievement in the past twelve months. The winner will not only be identified for their exceptional performance within the bookshop where they work but also for their achievements within the book industry as well as the local and wider community. This award gives booksellers the chance to exhibit their retailing skills, and be recognised by their peers, the book industry, and the general community for their career achievements, innovation and outstanding performance in their stores. The recipient of the award will receive $1,000.
Matt Davis, The Bookshop Queenscliff, Queenscliff VIC
Charlotte Guest, The Book Bird, Geelong VIC
Les McDonald, The Bookshop Darlinghurst, Darlinghurst NSW
Megan McPheat, Harry Hartog, Sydney NSW
Anna Savvas, The Bookshop Darwin, Darwin NT
Andrew Sims, Gleebooks, Glebe NSW
The BookPeople Buying Group is an opt-in monthly subscription group buying service for BookPeople members developed to help booksellers improve their businesses by achieving better trading terms with publishers. It consists of group offers on publishers’ new releases and backlist titles and provides access to a range of marketing assets, including Reading Guides and Monthly Newsletters curated by BookPeople booksellers.
BookPeople understands and empowers booksellers to do their business their way - from postage deals to staying connected to having a say in Canberra, the BookPeople promotes the unique benefits of bookshops and the interests of Australian booksellers.
We recognise and celebrate the special role that books and bookselling play in society - creating community, supporting creativity and ideas, and opening doors to other worlds and experiences.
Australia has a vibrant and diverse range of bookshops located in all states and territories. To search for BookPeople member bookshops in a specific area, or with a specialisation, please enter a postcode and/or select a filter.
To search for a bookshop where you can redeem a BookPeople Gift Card in-store or online select the below filter. To make sure your bookshop is ready to accept your Gift Card, we recommend contacting them ahead of your visit to let them know you have a new BookPeople Gift Card to redeem. Booksellers appreciate your patience as they update their systems.
Thank you for supporting local bookshops!
