The National Library Board has launched ReadSG, a five-year national movement to build a nation of readers. The launch on Sunday, 6 September at the National Library Building was officiated by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Patron of ReadSG.
The launch also inaugurated September as National Reading Month, a month-long celebration of reading with activities for all ages across libraries islandwide.
Ms Melissa Tam, Chief Executive Officer, NLB, said, “In today’s digital world, long-form reading is more important than ever. While short-form content helps us stay informed, long-form reading strengthens attention, critical thinking and imagination. ReadSG invites everyone to start small with an achievable 15 minutes. Over the next five years, we hope to build a stronger reading culture in Singapore, where reading becomes a natural and meaningful part of everyday life.”
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ReadSG & The ReadSG Challenge: 15 Minutes a Day
To kickstart the call to build a nation of readers, NLB has launched the ReadSG Challenge, inviting people to spend at least 15 minutes a day reading.
The ReadSG Challenge is delivered through the CrowdTask SG platform built by GovTech Singapore for citizen engagement. People can log daily reading sessions with CrowdTaskSG and keep it up to earn milestone rewards.
The Challenge gamifies the reading experience with personal goal setting, streaks, experience points (XP) and redeemable virtual coins to encourage participants to build a regular reading habit.
There is also a simple personality quiz to help participants discover their reader type.
There will be various NLB and partner events held between September and November 2026 where participants in the ReadSG Challenge can redeem bonus rewards, such as limited-edition library charms.
The ReadSG Challenge aims to attract 150,000 users by September 2027. The Challenge will run as a pilot from 6 September to 31 December 2026.
Read for Good
Running from 6 September to 7 October 2026, Read for Good is the National Library Board’s signature charity drive which aims to encourage reading and share the joy of reading with the less privileged.
Previously known as Read For Books, this year marks ten years of reading for a good cause.
Every 15 minutes of reading done each day will help to raise funds for charity. All reading sessions logged as part of the ReadSG Challenge during National Reading Month in September 2026 will automatically contribute towards Read for Good.
The National Library Board is aiming to achieve 7.5 million reading minutes to bring reading to a community of up to 10,000 individuals.
Funds raised will support kidsREAD, MINDS and Preschool Market, through the provision of reading and learning aids, in addition to book donations from sponsors.
Find out more about how to be part of Read for Good.
National Reading Month Activities
Other programmes have also been planned for National Reading Month.
Reading in the Age of Distraction, being held on 5, 12, 19, 26 September 2026, is a series of conversations featuring acclaimed local and international thinkers on the science of reading, and reading well in the digital age.
Big Book Giveaway is NLB’s annual community event that brings together a love of reading and sustainability by giving pre-loved library books a second life. Taking place on 19 and 20 September 2026 at The Plaza, National Library Building, Big Book Giveaway invites all to bring home books and audio-visual items from NLB’s public library collections, free of charge. This year, 60,000 pre-loved library books will be up for grabs.
Love Our Libraries and Archives is an annual celebration of NLB’s birthday month. From 1 to 30 September, you will find exciting reading experiences, exclusive collectables, community programmes and opportunities to share what reading means to you across the libraries.
More ReadSG Initiatives
Alongside the ReadSG Challenge and Read for Good, NLB is introducing other initiatives to make reading more accessible and embedded in everyday life for all. These include Get It Now, which makes popular eBooks available for one day each month with no wait required, Readers Assemble: A Marvel Festival, the Time of Your Life Celebration, and A Book A Day.
Get more information and find out how you can participate in ReadSG.
