New movement to get S’poreans to read 15 minutes a day through tracking platform, virtual rewards

The ReadSG Challenge includes features such as personal goal-setting, reading streaks, experience points and redeemable virtual coins.

ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Published Sep 06, 2026, 06:00 PM

Updated Sep 06, 2026, 06:00 PM

SINGAPORE - A new five-year national movement is encouraging Singaporeans to pick up a book for at least 15 minutes a day, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s reading culture.

They can track their daily reading time and earn virtual rewards as part of a challenge under the ReadSG movement launched by the National Library Board (NLB) on Sept 6.

The ReadSG Challenge, which runs on government citizen engagement platform CrowdTask SG, includes features such as personal goal-setting, reading streaks, experience points and redeemable virtual coins.

It will be piloted from Sept 6 to Dec 31, with new features and enhancements to be introduced based on feedback.

Another initiative under ReadSG is Get It Now, which will make a popular title available to all Libby users on the first Friday of each month until March 2027 with no waiting time required .

ReadSG’s launch marks the start of National Reading Month, to be held every September with reading-related activities for people of all ages across libraries islandwide.

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, patron of ReadSG, officiated at its l aunch at the National Library Building in Bugis.

When asked by the emcee about his decision to be a patron for ReadSG for the next five years, he said: “If we are thinking of having an impact with the broad span of the population, the young, the middle-aged and the older, we should be willing to be patient because habits are formed slowly.”

“Five years is actually not a long time, but we hope in five years’ time to see that there will be something different in our habits

NLB said ReadSG aims to help Singaporeans develop sustainable reading habits through small and achievable steps, beginning with 15 minutes of reading each day.

Its chief executive Melissa Tam said the movement comes at a time when people have access to an abundance of content and information, but may spend less time engaging deeply with what they read.

“We live in a world of extraordinary abundance, of content, information and stimulation,” she said. “At any moment, we can scroll through hundreds of headlines, watch a video, or get a summary of almost anything.”

But she said regular long-form reading helps develop skills such as critical thinking, imagination, empathy and attention.

“We know that habits are built through small, consistent actions. So, we are starting with a simple goal – just read for 15 minutes a day. On the bus, before bed, or over lunch.”

NLB aims to attract 150,000 users to the challenge by September 2027.

Participants can also collect bonus rewards, including limited-edition library charms, by attending selected NLB and partner events between September and November.

Reading done under the challenge in September will also count towards Read for Good, NLB’s annual charity reading drive.

Previously known as Read for Books, the initiative is targeting 7.5 million reading minutes this year to raise up to $150,000 for less privileged communities.

From Sept 6 to Oct 7, every 15 minutes of reading logged each day will contribute towards the fundraising effort.

Tam said NLB hopes the charity drive will benefit 10,000 individuals.

The funds will support kidsREAD, MINDS and Preschool Market through the provision of reading and learning aids, in addition to book donations from sponsors.

ReadSG is supported by more than 40 partners and advocates, including the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA), Ministry of Education, Agency for Integrated Care, National Arts Council, People’s Association, Singapore Book Publishers Association, SPH Media and Mediacorp.

ECDA chief executive Ku Geok Boon said reading regularly from a young age helps children develop attention, curiosity and imagination.

“ECDA is happy to partner NLB on ReadSG to inspire more families to make reading with their little ones a daily habit,” she said.

The movement will also seek to reach older Singaporeans. Agency for Integrated Care chief executive Tan Chee Wee said the agency hopes to encourage more seniors to make reading a daily habit through its network of Active Ageing Centres.

SPH Media chief executive Chan Yeng Kit said that the national news company’s multi-language coverage across English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil allows it to connect with communities across every generation.

“We are proud to join hands with NLB and other partners for ReadSG to champion critical thinking, celebrate storytelling, and nurture a lifelong love for reading across Singapore.”

Other ReadSG initiatives include programmes such as Readers Assemble: A Marvel Festival, the Time of Your Life Celebration and A Book A Day.

Tam said: “This is a multi-year national reading movement, and we are thinking long-term. Not just about the first book someone picks up, but about what it looks like five years from now, when reading has become a natural and meaningful part of everyday life for more of us.”

National Library Board

Tharman Shanmugaratnam

ReadSG挑战赛包含个人目标设定、阅读连读、经验值和可兑换虚拟货币等功能。

《海峡时报》摄影：郭志雄

发布于2026年9月6日下午6:00

更新于2026年9月6日下午6:00

新加坡——一项为期五年的全国性运动鼓励新加坡人每天至少抽出 15 分钟时间阅读书籍，以此加强该国的阅读文化。

他们可以记录自己的每日阅读时间，并通过参与国家图书馆管理局 (NLB) 于 9 月 6 日发起的 ReadSG 运动挑战来赢取虚拟奖励。

ReadSG挑战赛在政府公民参与平台CrowdTask SG上运行，其功能包括个人目标设定、阅读连读、经验值和可兑换的虚拟货币。

该系统将于9月6日至12月31日进行试运行，并将根据反馈意见推出新功能和改进措施。

ReadSG 的另一项举措是“立即获取”，该举措将在每个月的第一个星期五向所有 Libby 用户提供一本热门书籍，直至 2027 年 3 月，无需等待。

ReadSG 的启动标志着全国阅读月的开始，该活动将于每年九月举行，届时全岛各图书馆将为所有年龄段的人们举办与阅读相关的活动。

ReadSG的赞助人、新加坡总统尚达曼在武吉士国家图书馆大楼主持了该活动的启动仪式。

当主持人问及他为何决定在未来五年担任 ReadSG 的赞助人时，他表示：“如果我们想要对广大民众，包括年轻人、中年人和老年人，产生影响，我们就应该有耐心，因为习惯是慢慢养成的。”

“五年其实并不长，但我们希望五年后能看到我们的习惯有所改变。”

新加坡国家图书馆管理局表示，ReadSG 旨在通过循序渐进的小步骤，帮助新加坡人养成可持续的阅读习惯，从每天阅读 15 分钟开始。

其首席执行官梅丽莎·谭表示，这一运动正值人们可以接触到大量内容和信息，但可能花更少时间深入阅读之际。

“我们生活在一个内容、信息和刺激极其丰富的世界，”她说。“在任何时刻，我们都可以浏览数百条新闻标题，观看视频，或者获取几乎任何事物的摘要。”

但她表示，经常阅读长篇作品有助于培养批判性思维、想象力、同理心和注意力等技能。

“我们知道习惯是通过持续的小行动养成的。所以，我们从一个简单的目标开始——每天阅读15分钟。可以在公交车上、睡前或午餐时间阅读。”

NLB的目标是到2027年9月吸引15万用户参与这项挑战。

参与者还可以通过在 9 月至 11 月期间参加指定 NLB 和合作伙伴活动来收集额外奖励，包括限量版图书馆饰品。

9 月份在挑战活动中完成的阅读量也将计入 NLB 的年度慈善阅读活动“Read for Good”的阅读量。

这项活动以前被称为“为书籍而读”，今年的目标是达到 750 万分钟的阅读时间，为弱势群体筹集高达 15 万美元的善款。

从9月6日至10月7日，每天记录的每15分钟阅读时间都将为筹款活动做出贡献。

谭先生表示，国家图书馆管理局希望此次慈善活动能够惠及10000人。

这些资金将用于支持 kidsREAD、MINDS 和 Preschool Market，提供阅读和学习辅助用品，此外还有赞助商捐赠的书籍。

ReadSG 得到了 40 多个合作伙伴和倡导者的支持，其中包括幼儿培育署 (ECDA)、教育部、综合护理机构、国家艺术理事会、人民协会、新加坡图书出版商协会、新加坡报业控股媒体和新传媒。

幼儿培育署署长顾玉文表示，从小经常阅读有助于培养孩子的注意力、好奇心和想象力。

“幼儿培育署很高兴能与国家图书馆合作开展 ReadSG 项目，以激励更多家庭养成与孩子一起阅读的日常习惯，”她说。

这项活动还将致力于吸引新加坡老年人。综合护理机构首席执行官陈志伟表示，该机构希望通过其活跃老龄化中心网络，鼓励更多老年人养成每日阅读的习惯。

新加坡报业控股媒体首席执行官陈永杰表示，这家国家新闻公司以英语、中文、马来语和泰米尔语等多种语言进行报道，使其能够与各个年龄段的社区建立联系。

“我们很荣幸能与新加坡国家图书馆管理局及其他合作伙伴携手开展 ReadSG 项目，以倡导批判性思维、颂扬讲故事的艺术，并在新加坡培养终身阅读的习惯。”

ReadSG 的其他举措包括“读者集结：漫威节”、“人生精彩时刻庆典”和“每日一书”等活动。

谭女士说：“这是一项为期多年的全国性阅读运动，我们着眼于长远。我们不仅关注人们拿起的第一本书，更着眼于五年后，当阅读成为更多人日常生活中自然而有意义的一部分时，会是什么样子。”

国家图书馆委员会

尚达曼