Libraries host colourful reading challenge

THE City of Ballarat is encouraging everyone to flick through the pages of the queer experience as part of the Read the Rainbow challenge.

Facilitated through Ballarat Libraries, the initiative launched alongside International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, with participants urged to read a book from their LGBTQIA+ collection.

Cr Amy Johnson said the program aims to help people better understand the perspectives of those in Ballarat’s queer community.

“By reading about the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people, everyone in Ballarat can take the opportunity to learn about life from a new perspective and gain a better understanding of how other people view the world,” she said.

“To complete the Read the Rainbow challenge participants read a book for each letter or symbol represented by LGBTIQA+.

“They then log these books on the Ballarat Libraries Beanstack reading challenge app or website.

“I encourage all members of the community to join the Read the Rainbow Challenge or any other reading challenges online at ballarat.beanstack.com or by downloading the Beanstack app.”

The challenge will run until Saturday, 31 December, and entries lodged will go towards Ballarat Libraries’ community reading goal of 15,000 books.

LGBTQIA+ advocate Holly Ellis has taken part in the challenge at Ballarat Library, and said it’s helped her to expand her reading list.

“It’s been really enjoyable going through the different types of stories. Getting to know other identities I’m not familiar with is really interesting and valuable,” she said.

“It’s offering a way to diversify our experiences and showing people stories they might not have read about otherwise.

“I think it’s bringing a sense of community as well. It’s always fun to talk about books, and I think the biggest part of queer culture is about the sharing of stories.”

To participate in Read the Rainbow, visit ballarat.beanstack.org/reader365.