Sharakah Reading Festival (October 2023)

Under the hashtag #Ireadforme, AUS will host the second Sharakah Reading Festival. This vibrant festival is designed to celebrate the joy of sharing books, to encourage participants to be immersed in reading, to foster a love for literature, and to provide young readers with a forum to spark intellectual growth, creative expression and social interaction.

Participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite literary character; creative cosplay will win prizes.

All participants will be invited to participate in a range of interactive reading-themed events during their visit:

• Free book selection: Student readers are encouraged to browse the collection of free books on display.
• Book swap station: Participants will be encouraged to bring one or more used books to swap at the Book Swap station, which Bookends will host. This will enable students to understand a book's life cycle and how one can pass through many hands.
• Creative expression zone: This mindful, reflective zone will be hosted by AUS librarians. Participants will complete book-based craft activities, be encouraged to chat about books they have read and express their opinions.
• Sensory literary workshops: AUS professors and librarians will host interactive 30-minute workshops engaging participants in sensory poems, sound-bathing and creative writing tasks.
• Interactive exhibit stations: Students will visit the multiple interactive stations, which will be hosted by students from a select number of AUS student clubs and societies.
• American Sign Language workshop: Participants will have the opportunity to attend an interactive workshop relating to American Sign Language (AUS Community Services volunteers) to build an understanding of the different ways that people in our community access literature.
• Author talks: These provide opportunities for attendees to meet their local authors and ask questions about their work.
• Cosplay competition: Students are encouraged to participate in the cosplay competition. They will be interviewed by roving judges as they circulate through the day's activities, and they will then participate in a cosplay parade, which the judging will follow. There will be prizes for winners in different categories.

For more information, contact  [email protected].