The Indigenous Literacy Project (ILP) is a nationwide partnership between the Australian Book Industry and The Fred Hollows Foundation that seeks to address the current crisis in remote Indigenous Australian literacy. 

In 2008 ILP raised over $300,000 to purchase and supply books and other culturally appropiate material to communities where The Foundation works.  Riverbend Books is very proud to be the project's founding bookshop which began in 2004 as The Riverbend Readers' Challenge.

In 2009 bookshops around Australia will be hosting The Great Book Swap to raise awareness and funding for ILP.

Riverbend Books and Avid Reader at West End are each holding a Great Book swap.  

How it works:

1. Each night will begin with wine and nibbles and a lot of fun! We will be holding an auction of Indigenous art, and the books donated and signed by local celebrities and authors.
2. After the auction we will be holding the book swap, where patrons can bring up to three books, and can swap them for someone else’s book, paying with a donation amount of their choice. Each book will be individualized with a comment from the previous owner inside.
3. Funds raised by The Great Book Swap go to the Fred Hollows Foundation who organise books and literacy projects for over one hundred remote Indigenous communities. The evenings are part of an Australia-wide push for higher Indigenous Literacy levels – a skill which equates to better health and living standards. Last year over $300 000 was raised, and this year, with your help, we hope to do even better.
   

When and Where:

If you would like to be involved in the event, or can aid in communicating our message to the public, we would be glad to hear from you.  Please contact Kate or Jason at ilpbookswap@gmail.com or at Riverbend 3899 8555.