A COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
THE CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN
Our Story
LOST IN BOOKS is the brainchild of Jane Stratton and the Think+DO Tank Foundation, an arts and social impact charity that creates public art and community projects in South Western and Western Sydney. It is the Foundation’s biggest project to date.
Lost In Books opened its doors in July 2017 following a successful community crowdfunding campaign, proudly underwritten by the English Family Foundation.
Together with hundreds of supporters, almost $40,000 was raised to transform an idea into a welcoming multilingual bookshop and creative space. Designed by architect Dominique Hage, Lost in Books quickly became a place where literature, language and community could come together.
From the beginning, our programming reflected the diversity of Western Sydney, bringing together storytelling, music, creative writing, illustration, textiles, performance and conversation.
Over the years we have developed and hosted a wide range of literary and creative initiatives, including:
Wandering Books
Forked Tongues Multilingual Storytelling Collective
IN OTHER WORDS Literary Residencies
IN OTHER WORDS Multilingual Arts Festival
Sound System Music Residency
Writers' Room
Language Writing Academy
Arrival anthology
Writers Residency
Multilingual Shelves
MIRROR Mentorship
Translation Book Club
Each program has contributed to a growing community of readers, writers, artists and language lovers, helping shape the next chapter of Lost in Books.
“We called the shop LOST IN BOOKS to capture the joy of being immersed in a great story and for the freedom that reading gives us.”
- Jane Stratton (Founder & CEO, Think+DO Tank Foundation)
WATCH: LOST IN BOOKS featured in Google ‘Aussie Small Businesses’ campaign
Resilience & Growth
Like many community organisations, Lost in Books faced enormous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than pause, we adapted.
Our team worked with artists, facilitators and community partners to move programming online, launching Lost In Books TV with more than 80 free multilingual videos, expanding our online bookshop and finding new ways to stay connected while our community remained physically apart.
That period reinforced what we have always known: stories continue to connect us, even when we cannot be together.
The resilience of our team, artists, volunteers, partners and community has shaped the organisation Lost in Books is today.
Today
Lost in Books continues to grow as both a multilingual bookshop and a creative literary organisation.
We curate books from around the world, develop writers and artists, deliver literary programs, support multilingual school and community libraries, and create spaces where language, culture and creativity can flourish.
Whether you're discovering a new language, searching for a book that feels like home, developing your creative practice or building a multilingual collection for your school or organisation, you're welcome here.
Explore
Read – Discover multilingual books and literary events.
Write – Support for writers through residencies and mentorship.
Create – Creative projects, workshops and collaborations.
Connect – Schools, organisations, community partnerships and multilingual initiatives.
Our Milestones
THE LAUNCH JULY 2017
OUR FIRST BIRTHDAY 2018
IN OTHER WORDS FESTIVAL 2018