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<\/p>\nSINGAPORE – When volunteer Gareth Ki first sat down to read with a restless young boy, he braced himself for a challenge. <\/p>\n
But after a few sessions \u2013 and excerpts of a Percy Jackson book \u2013 the boy became more cheerful and sociable. <\/p>\n
His transformation reflects the impact of a new reading mentorship programme by non-profit group Heartland Literature, part of a growing effort to expand access to books for underserved communities. <\/p>\n
The National Library Board (NLB) has also expanded its outreach. <\/p>\n
In August 2024, it launched kidsRead@Home, where volunteers visit children aged four to eight in public rental flats to read to them. Each child receives two books a year, and try their hand at Steam (science, technology, engineering, arts\u00a0and mathematics) activities. <\/p>\n
So far, 44 children have joined the programme, with NLB aiming for 100 by the end of 2025. <\/p>\n
This builds on kidsRead, a nationwide initiative that began in 2004 and has since benefited nearly 80,000 children. It operates in pre-schools, primary schools and community spaces. <\/p>\n
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Over 20 years, nearly 80,000 children have benefitted from kidsRead, a nationwide reading programme by the National Library Board.<\/p>\n
PHOTO: NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD<\/p>\n
Seven-year-old Ernest Lim, a regular at kidsRead, now devours up to 10 books a day and creates his own comics. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe reads a lot more,\u201d said his father, Mr Lim Wen Jun, 42. \u201cWhen he\u2019s supposed to do other activities, he chooses to read instead, but it\u2019s good news.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ernest has three shelves of books at home, his favourite being the Young Scientists series. <\/p>\n
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Nationwide initiative kidsRead, which began in 2004, operates at pre-schools, primary schools and community spaces.<\/p>\n
ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG<\/p>\n
But unlike Ernest, many children do not have access to books. A recent study in 2025 by NLB and the National Institute of Education found that most low-income families own fewer than 20 English books. <\/p>\n
Of the 37 families surveyed, 43 per cent never visit public libraries, citing time constraints, fear of damaging books, or unfamiliarity with borrowing rules. <\/p>\n
Associate Professor Loh Chin Ee, principal investigator of the study, said: \u201cA lack of familiarity with library procedures and resources was another potential gap.\u201d <\/p>\n
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