Singapore's First Ever Infocomm-Enabled Literary Event Transforms Reading Experience

Singapore, 18 July 2010 – For the first time in Singapore, reading took on a new dimension by harnessing infocomm-enabled technologies through READ! IT.

READ! IT, held in conjunction with READ! Singapore 2010, is jointly organised by the National Library Board (NLB) and the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA). It brought together reading events happening at six different venues including the National Library Building, Chua Chu Kang Community Club, Geylang Serai Community Club, Marsiling Constituency, SCOGA@Nanyang Polytechnic and Nee Soon South Community Club simultaneously over a two-hour period with videos streamed live online at www.readit.sg for online viewers.

Online viewers who visited the portal were able to watch the various reading groups read aloud or creatively present their selected books in the form of a song, skit or mime performance. The reading groups comprised special guest readers including local media personalities such as the presenters from Good Morning Singapore as well as Members of Parliament such as Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower.

Members of the public who visited the portal were also able to tweet, vote for their favourite team and participate in online teasers to further encourage public participation and engagement.

“READ! IT transforms reading experience to one where members of the public can share their ideas, interact and discuss with one another their experiences without being constrained by their geographical locations. Through such initiatives, we hope to further reach out to more Singaporeans and nurture their love for reading,” said Dr N Varaprasad, Chief Executive, NLB.

“Infocomm technology can help to bring programmes like NLB's READ! Singapore 2010 beyond physical locations to reach a wider audience. Through READ! IT, participants of the reading events as well as online visitors can watch the event activities, vote for their favourite sites and discuss book presentations they are interested in. IDA is pleased to collaborate with NLB to innovatively use infocomm technology to promote reading and enrich lives in Singapore,” said RADM (NS) Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer, IDA.

Members of the public who are interested to participate in programmes organised for READ! Singapore can visit www.readsingapore.nlb.gov.sg for more information.