[MEDIA RELEASE] Official Brotherhood Books Launch

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, 14 September 2009 For immediate release

Brotherhood Books set to launch with lots of laughs from Corinne Grant

Comedian and broadcaster, Corinne Grant has enthusiastically embraced her role as official launch personality for the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s latest social enterprise initiative, Brotherhood Books.

On Wednesday, 16 September, Corinne will join the Grade 5/6 class from Sacred Heart Primary School in the heart of multicultural Fitzroy to celebrate a wonderful new way to recycle and reuse secondhand books, while also supporting a worthy cause.

The lucky pupils will each receive a free book and a donation of more than 100 books will be given to the school’s library.
Corinne, well known for her roles as a stand up comedian, is currently narrator of a new TV show, Airways. She is best known for her long stint in ABC TV’s The Glasshouse and has also performed internationally. In addition to Rove Live, she has appeared on everything from Spicks and Specks to Dancing With The Stars to Good News Week. Her natural, down-to-earth charm and her quick wit have made her one of Australia’s best known and most warmly regarded performers. A strong supporter of the Brotherhood for many years, Corinne is currently working on writing a book of her own – about hoarding.
Brotherhood Books is an online secondhand bookstore that offers a wonderful range of unique books taken from more than 45 tonnes of donated books. There are books to suit all ages and tastes, from children’s picture books to bestsellers, and there’s a book for every avid reader. Browse online through a huge range of categories including biographies, families and relationships, gardening, health and fitness, through to the great classics of literature and the popular self-help category.
100% of the profits from Brotherhood Books will go towards supporting and funding the Brotherhood’s fight against poverty.
Sacred Heart PS was chosen as many of the children attending the school and their families are residents of the high-rise public housing in Fitzroy and beneficiaries of the numerous programs run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, including Breakfast Club and the Homework Centre. Established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1864, Sacred Heart PS plays a vital role in the Fitzroy community and brings together a diverse range of students from many cultural backgrounds.

“At Sacred Heart School we believe that reading is one of the key elements to access learning and success in later education and in everyday life,” said Principal Mary Lawrey.

“Children need access to books. They need to hold, handle and discover what is inside a book. Many of our parents can’t afford to buy books so we encourage children to borrow from school and the local library. By looking at books and reading with their children, parents are learning as well,” she said.

“But we would be lost without the support of our key agencies in Fitzroy – particularly the Brotherhood, they are essential to our existence.

“The Brotherhood helps us in many ways, such as through making funds available to support children going to camp when their parents are unable to afford the costs.

“They provide breakfast before school each day at the Breakfast Club, and through the Napier Street Resource Centre we access support for our parents and families in need.

“Plus many of the children in the school are graduates of the HIPPY preschool reading program. Our partnership with the Brotherhood of St Laurence is very important to us.”


ENDS


WHO: Brotherhood of St Laurence
WHAT: Official launch of new online bookstore – Brotherhood Books
WHEN: 10.15 for 10.30am on Wednesday, 16 September, 2009
WHERE: Sacred Heart Primary School, King William St, Fitzroy (see map on next page)
WHY: To assist the Brotherhood is its fight for an Australia free of poverty
PHOTO OP: Corinne Grant will engage in fun activities including cutting a book-shaped cake and also present books to pupils while Brotherhood Executive Director Tony Nicholson (Chair of the Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness) will also be available for media interviews

Media contact: Grahame Whyte on 0410 221 574

Fed Square Book Market

We had a very successful run at the Book Market on Saturday 1st of August 09. Here are some photos taken on the day. Enjoy them!

[Book Review] Wordpower by Edward de Bono

Written by Lee Lian Oi (Brotherhood Books volunteer)

This book has been carefully compiled to contain some very impressive words that will help you look more intelligent than you really are at cocktail parties and other such events. There are stories as to the backgrounds behind the words, as well as the extent of the scope in which one can use them.

Copy added in the system is a lovely Penguin paperback in fair condition.
Find the copy from Brotherhood Books HERE.

[V for Volunteer] How are Our Books Priced? – An Insider’s Guide

Written by Lee Lian

As a volunteer at Brotherhood Books, I'd like to ensure you that we go to great lengths to assure that our books are sold at a reasonable price. What must be taken in consideration however, are the many factors that go into allocating this price:

If you find that a book is pricier than expected, it may be because it is a first edition, signed by the authors, or is a hardcover with a jacket in impeccable condition - or sometimes a combination of all.

A cheaper book may be more damaged, an ex library copy, or one of many later reprints of a particular book.

As yet, there is no way of putting this information on the database but we are working on it. So stay tuned for a facelift of our website.

Rest assured that at Brotherhood Books, we do try to make sure you get what you pay for!

Happy reading!

Bargain Hunt at the Brotherhood Books Pop-up Store - 11am-5pm, Saturday 1st August

Place: Federation Square Book Market (The Atrium, Federation Square), Melbourne, Victoria
Date & Time: 11am-5pm, Saturday 1st August

Brotherhood Books is coming closer to you this winter, as we open our first pop-up store at the Fed Square Book Market on Saturday 1st August. Join Melbourne's bibliophiles at the city's largest weekly book market, immerse yourself in an eclectic range of quality secondhand books and have a chat with the book-addicted bunch behind Brotherhood Books - our lovely volunteers.


See you on 1st August and happy reading!

[Customers] Customers Testimonial 2

Written By Aaron Hughes

I’ve been addicted to secondhand bookstores since I was a kid. I can never walk past a secondhand shop without popping in to have a look at the book section. I’m usually rewarded with a gem, and an inexpensive gem at that. In recent years I’ve been ordering my books online. It’s much cheaper than buying them over the counter, even when you factor in postage. I tell my friends: “This little black duck doesn’t pay retail!”. Now that Brotherhood Books has opened its portal to the world, you get the best of both worlds: inexpensive books, inexpensive postage and fast delivery. I’ve set a reminder on my Outlook calendar to check their website everyone Monday. You see, I have a ‘books to get’ list, and all I do is type in the authors and I can find the ones I want. The ordering process is quick and easy, and I got the books in my first order only 2 days later, which is even faster than the new books you get from online book stores. And the money you spend goes back to the Brotherhood to use in its wide range of good works. It’s a win-win situation!

- Aaron, Collingwood, Melbourne

[Customers] Customers Testimonial 1

Written By Cath Nolan

It's time I came clean. I've embarked on a new love affair - and an online one at that.... with Brotherhood Books.

BB (my nickname for my beloved paramour) is there for me in all the ways that count. You see I love books, I love a bargain and I love getting stuff in the mail - and BB gives me all of that, plus the gorgeous afterglow of feeling that in satisfying my own desires I've also contributed to making the world a better place. To paraphrase "Sally" from that movie (and show my age): Yes, Yes, Yes.... Yes!

So now I challenge you - next time you decide to buy a book, check out Brotherhood Book's website first. It's easy to use and won't take nearly as much time as wandering around a bookshop. If you know what you want, search for it and if it's there it's likely to cost signifcantly less than it would have new - and you get the benefit of the excitement of a parcel in the post (and let's face it, these days, anything in the post that isn't a bill is pretty exciting!) and the knowledge that you've done a little bit for the environment and a well respected and effective Australian charity. If you don't know what you want, do what you'd do in a bookshop... have a browse. Pick something that takes your fancy - let's face it, you've got a lot less to lose than you might from picking based on the colour of the cover alone! Search for authors that you've read and enjoyed before. Look for classics that you never got around to. Search by random words that come to you - something from the headline in today's paper, your favourite colour, what you had for dinner last night..... and see what comes up. Chances are, as the database of book reviews grows, you'll might find something that is just right for you that you might never have noticed in a bookshop. The payment gateway is secure and you can pay with paypal.... cheap, efficient, easy.

Congratulations guys on a wonderful achievement. BB rocks - and there's enough love to share!