Readers & writers

Wendy Harmer needs no introduction! From the first Australian female stand-up comedian to tv presenter, radio host, and successful author, Wendy is a well known and loved personality. Her writing appeals to many age groups, from adults to children, and now she reveals all in her memoir, Lies My Mirror Told Me. Written with humour and openness, Wendy takes us through her life and the roller coaster that brought her to where she is today. Join Wendy and Frances Whiting for a fabulous evening of conversation and stories on Thursday 30 November, 6:30pm - 8pm at Robina Library. So grab a friend and book your seat today!

Want to meet an author?

• November is Local Writers Month and we're celebrating by showcasing local published authors at your local library. The list is generous with inspiring stories, creative fiction and inspiring insights. Meet local authors Sonya Leeding, Tony Cavanaugh, Gillian McConnell, Sally Breen and Jan Kuperman. Support local and book your seat today!
• Romance lovers get excited! We're celebrating Library Lovers Month with a special visit from the queen of romance herself, Rachael Johns. Her latest book, The Other Bridget, is a feelgood romantic comedy perfect for fans of Emily Henry and Marian Keyes. Join us on Tuesday 13 February, 6:30pm - 7:30pm at Robina Library for a fun night in. Book your seat today.
• Michelle Upton shows us the Emergency Exit Only with her latest fabulous feelgood novel. A great summer read, bring your friends or book club along to hear Michelle discuss her book, writing and how she keeps devising great plots. Wednesday 21 February, 6:30pm at Elanora Library.

We host touring authors online and in person throughout the year, from debut authors and household names to famous faces of the future. Keep an eye on our social media channels and events calendar for more information.

Find your next read

That's what our friendly librarians are for. Contact your local library or email our ask a librarian service and ask us for advice on what might suit your reading interests. We have a huge collection of digital reading material. Our librarians can help you find an ebook or eAudiobook that you can download direct to your device at home.

Our reading websites can also help you search for and discover your next read. See our eLibrary page for help finding new reads similar to those you already enjoy reading, including NoveList Plus, Who Else Writes Like...?, Storygraph and Goodreads.

For more information about our eBooks and eAudiobooks, see our eLibrary page. Never used our digital platforms before? No worries! Our staff can help get you started over the phone or you can follow our setup instructions from our connect with us at home page.

Can't find the book you are looking for? You can request the purchase of books, large print books and audiobooks not found in our catalogue through Suggest a purchase.

Gold Coast Libraries Local Writers Month

Introducing Writers Plus! Gold Coast Libraries free resources for our local writing community. Join in a Masterclass each Saturday led by industry professionals, drop into a writing space on Fridays and Sundays, meet a local author at your local library or apply for your published work to be added to Gold Coast Library collection. Find a course on Linked in Learning, and discover a new writing book added to our collection, all in the month of November. Celebrating our local writers!

Events and workshops

• Masterclass with Anne Varnes: Preparing for submissions. Publishers, Competitions & Opportunities: A must for all writers! Saturday 25 November, 10am - 12:15pm at Elanora Library. Bookings.
• Masterclass with Lori-Jay Ellis: Define your genre. A brilliant workshop led by the CEO of Queensland Writers Centre, this workshop is a perfect opportunity to find where your story sits on the shelf in the bookstore. Our first for the year, come and find out why the answer is never 'There's no book out there like mine' – and why that's a good thing. Saturday 3 February, 10am - 12:15pm at Elanora Library. Book your seat today.
• Masterclass with Taryn Bashford: Elements of writing – Setting & Worldbuilding. Learn to construct a coherent, immersive and effective fictional world for your stories to exist inside with award-winning author Taryn Bashford. Saturday 2 March, 10am - 12:15pm at Helensvale Library. Bookings open 30 January.
• Masterclass with Lamisse Hamouda: Introduction to Memoir & Life Writing. Whether you're writing for yourself, your family or looking to share your experiences with the world, this workshop is a great place to begin. Saturday 6 April, 10am - 12:15pm at Nerang Library. Bookings open 30 January.

Writing Friday and Writing Sunday

In collaboration, Gold Coast Libraries and Queensland Writers Centre present an exclusive opportunity for Gold Coast writers to foster their writing practice and engage with fellow writers. This volunteer-led program, based on the Pomodoro Technique, is open to writers of all levels and is offered free of charge. Join us to enjoy an inspiring writing environment, connect with the local writing community, and discover a new tool that ensures heightened productivity.

• Writing Friday , 10am – 3pm at Helensvale Library and Elanora Library
• Writing Sunday, 10am – 1pm at Southport Library
• NEW! Writing Saturday at Nerang Library. Commencing Saturday 20th January, 9am - 1pm.

Christmas Breaks -

Writing Friday Helensvale will be closed Friday 29 December only.

Writing Friday Elanora will be closed Friday 15 December to Friday 12 January.

Writing Sunday will be closed from Sunday 17 December to Sunday 4 January.

Gold Coast Libraries present professional free workshops for local writers. Each month there is a new theme and presenter either in person or livestream. Covering a wide range of topics, including world building, self-publishing, developing characters, poetry, memoirs and more, you are guaranteed to learn something new to improve or start your writing process. Stay updated by subscribing to our eNewsletter.

If you are looking for short or long courses to do on writing, creative writing and more? Head to LinkedIn Learning via our library website, enter your library card and pin and enjoy access to thousands of courses delivered by professionals, all at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home.

Ben's Book Club

Ben's Book Club invites you to download via The Libby App, no holds, and join Ben and the author for a book chat via zoom each month!

Meet author Fiona Britton talking about her latest book Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl. Download your copy today and join the conversation on Tuesday 28 November at 6:30pm via zoom. Book your seat today.

Join your local Book Club

Our Local Library Book Clubs provide an opportunity to meet like-minded readers and participate in an engaging conversation about monthly book themes.

As there is no set book, you can attend regular sessions or enjoy the flexibility of ‘dropping in and out’ as your schedule allows. Each monthly theme will help you discover new genres and find your next great read or favourite author. Find the right Book Club for you!

Our book clubs are held at the following libraries:

• Broadbeach Library, second Monday of the month
• Burleigh Waters Library, second Tuesday of the month
• Elanora Library, fourth Thursday of the month
• Helensvale Library, first Friday of the month
• Nerang Library, third Monday of the month
• Robina Library, first Thursday of the month
• Runaway Bay Library, third Friday of the month
• Southport Library, first Friday of the month
• Upper Coomera Library, second Friday of the month.

Session days may vary due to public holidays. For more details on dates and themes check our yearly Book Club schedule(PDF, 46KB).

Ben's Book Club

Ben's Book Club is an exclusive digital reading community tailored for Australian and New Zealand libraries and led by renowned bestselling author Ben Hobson. Members of Gold Coast Libraries can now seamlessly access the club's monthly selection through Libby, followed by interactive online sessions where they can engage with Ben Hobson in discussions about the book.

Library card holders can instantly borrow the designated monthly book from Ben's Book Club via the Libby reading app, bypassing waitlists and reservations. This convenient access extends across all devices, enabling users to enjoy Gold Coast Libraries' digital content around the clock through the Libby App or by navigating to https://goldcoast.overdrive.com/.

Become a member today to access our great collection of digital resources 24/7.

If you missed out on a session of Ben's Book Club you can catch up at the Gold Coast Libraries YouTube playlist.

Set up your own book club

Want to connect with other local readers and form your own book club? We have lots of tips on creating your own book club.

When you've started your book club, you can access our range of book club kits available for loan. Each kit contains 10 copies of a title for the exclusive use of your book club.

If interested in registering to use our book club kits, head into your local library to create your book club membership. Once registered, you can use your book club's library membership card to book your kits online(PDF, 54KB)

New book club kit titles include:

• Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
• All the Little Bird-Hearts by Viktoria Lloyd -Barlow
• The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
• Trust by Hernan Diaz
• The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
• Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko

Follow our Facebook page for great reading recommendations, new releases and author content.

Are you a Gold Coast author?

Gold Coast Libraries supports local writers by providing expert workshops, spaces to work and the opportunity to share your work with our library customers. Discover local authors today.

Would you like to see your book in our library collection? If you're a local author and library member who's been self or independently published, we encourage you to submit your publication to be assessed for adding to our collection.

To be considered, your book must have been published within the last 3 years, and you must be a Gold Coast resident and Gold Coast Libraries member. All submissions are assessed against our collection selection criteria.

If you’re a Gold Coast resident, but not a member, you can join for free at your local library.

If your publication is about or set on the Gold Coast, but you’re not a Gold Coast resident, please contact us via Ask a Librarian.

Physical publications

Our local author process for physical items is managed by our supplier Peter Pal. If you are interested in submitting your book click the link below:

physical book request

Digital publications

If your eBook is already available on Overdrive, Borrowbox or Cloud Library, you can submit your request to have this added to our collection by clicking the link below:

ebook request