Push to expand access to books for underserved communities

Non-profit group's reading mentorship programme and NLB's outreach among initiatives

- Gabrielle Chan

When volunteer Gareth Ki first sat down to read with a restless young boy, he braced himself for a challenge.

But after a few sessions—and excerpts of a Percy Jackson book—the boy became more cheerful and sociable.

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.

The National Library Board (NLB) has also expanded its outreach.

In August 2024, it launched kids Read@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 tries their hand at STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) activities.

So far, 44 children have joined the programme, with NLB aiming for 100 by the end of 2025.