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- Drawing on the expertise of 29 volunteer industry professionals
- Base-line data on the decline in awareness and reading of Canadian-authored books
- New data on the presence of Canadian books in Canada
- Bringing together 40 years of Canadian research documents
Key report findings
- Canadian-authored books now represent just 15% of book purchases
- Independent Canadian publishers’ sales down by 44% over the last 10 years
- Canadians want to read Canadian authored books – but can’t easily find them
- Public libraries support Canadian writers – but can’t measure how well they’re doing
Key report recommendations
- Policies and programs for 50 new independent bookstores across the country in 5 years
- Support for independent bookstores as key community cultural spaces
- Large-scale expansion of successful childrens/teen “Tree Award” programs to get more kids in schools reading more Canadian books
- Matching funding for public libraries to double their buying of new Canadian-authored books
- Policies and programs to support public libraries as champions of Canadian authors and Canadian books
- New publisher initiatives to identify Canadian-authored books
- Multiple measures to upgrade digital infrastructures all across the book trade to give Canadian books greater visibility and to give Canadian readers better access
- A “Store within a store” initiative in university bookstores to give students and professors better access to Canadian trade and scholarly books
- New focus on Canadian writers on CBC Radio and CBC Digital, giving audiences access to a wider range of Canadian voices, stories and opinions
- In all, 76 detailed recommendations for everyone involved in book writing, publishing, access and awareness – because today, Canada needs more Canada!