Background

NLB launched its first ever nation-wide reading initiative, READ! Singapore 05 on 24 May 2005. This initiative, adapted from the highly successful reading programmes around the world like the “One Book, One City” project in the US, Australia and others, was conceived in alignment with the Government’s strategic outcome of “Community”, READ! Singapore 05 was held over a 10-week period from 24 May to 6 August 2005, to encourage communal reading, flowed by facilitated discussions on the selected story.

To promote a culture of reading fiction in our country, it was aimed at encouraging more Singaporeans to read and share the joy of reading. To promote local creative literature, at least one book by a local author was included in each official language out of the 12 titles selected.

Objective

The key objective of the READ! Singapore initiative is to promote a culture of reading among Singaporeans as it aims to provide Singaporeans with an opportunity to rediscover the joys of reading, by creating a common topic of discussion and conversation amongst people. Hopefully, this nation-wide reading initiative will have an “infectious” quality and energy of its own, with people all over the island reading the same books and discussing them

READ! Singapore also aims to help develop Singaporeans’ critical thinking skills, creativity, expressions and imagination through the varied activities such as story dramatisation and book discussions.