Reimagine Reading with NLB’s READ30, a Celebration of Stories, Senses and Surprises
Experience reading like never before with immersive experiences where books come to life, recommended reads from 30 iconic Singaporean personalities and a special tribute to Singapore’s Presidents
2 July 2025 — Reimagine and rediscover reading this July with READ30 – the biggest, boldest edition of NLB’s popular Read! Fest, a festival dedicated to inspiring a passion for reading. In celebration of NLB’s 30th anniversary, READ30 invites everyone to rediscover the joy of reading through interactive and immersive experiences that bring stories to life in everyday spaces across the city and online. The engaging line-up of activities is the result of close collaboration with partners, such as local authors, personalities, bookstores and more, and features three exciting experiences for all:
- Stroll through 8 vibrant library pop-up Nodes from National Library Building to Orchard Road (5 to 20 July 2025): 30 iconic Singaporean personalities, including author Myle Yan Tay, musician Shabir Sulthan, actress Haryani Othman, chef and restaurateur Violet Oon, and equestrienne Gemma Rose Foo, will share their favourite reads at various pop-ups in the city. Get inspired by 90 book recommendations from these personalities, whose chosen titles ranging from well-loved classics to thought-provoking biographies, will be displayed at the pop-up Nodes.
- Step into a multi-sensory showcase at Worlds Within – Marquee Experience (5 July to 27 July 2025): Housed at the National Library Building Plaza, this one-of-a-kind marquee experience transforms reading into a full-bodied adventure where stories engage all five senses.
- Check out recommended reads from the Singapore Presidents at the Presidential Pop-up Library (12 July to 2 September 2025): Discover the recommended readings of past and present Presidents of the Republic of Singapore at an interactive showcase at Plaza Singapura.
NLB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ng Cher Pong, said: “Over the years, Read! Fest has been NLB’s hallmark event for patrons to discover more writers and their works through new reading experiences. This special edition which we call READ30, to mark NLB’S 30th anniversary, will take such experiences to new levels for all to rediscover and reimagine reading. We are very happy to be able to do so together with our partners in the literary community including authors, personalities, bookstores and more. Our recently released National Reading Habits Study showed that reading remained strong among many Singaporeans. We hope that NLB’s efforts over the years, including with READ30, will help more Singaporeans to be enriched from the joy and value in reading.”
Discover your next great read at the eight pop-up Nodes
One of the key highlights of READ30 are the eight pop-up Nodes. From 5 to 20 July 2025, embark on an exciting reading trail stretching from the National Library Building to Orchard Road, supported by Orchard Road Business Association.
Conveniently located near popular shopping spots — namely Shaw House, ION Orchard, The Paper Bunny at Ngee Ann City, Outside Mandarin Gallery, TRIFECTA, The Cathay, School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA), and Bynd Artisan at Raffles City — each Node brings to life a unique theme, from wellness and food to travel and more.
Look forward to 90 specially selected reads in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil personally handpicked by 30 iconic Singaporean personalities like Myle Yan Tay, Shabir Sulthan, Violet Oon, Haryani Othman, and Gemma Rose Foo. Please refer to Annex A for more details on the recommended books and the personalities.
Patrons can take the time to explore physical books, browse eBooks, and unwind in cosy reading corners. Each Node also features showcases of the personalities and Insta-worthy photo spots — perfect for capturing your literary adventures.
*These are artist impressions of the Nodes and are subject to changes.
In partnership with homegrown bookstores Closetful of Books, Book Bar, Wormhole and Basheer, visitors can look forward to exclusive discounts on READ30 recommended titles and more. Look out for more details soon.
NLB is also inviting everyone to share fun and quirky ways in which they enjoy reading with the launch of #HowDoYouRead, supported by Rakuten Kobo. Whether it’s curled up on the sofa or sprawled across the floor, the campaign celebrates the joy and individuality of reading habits, building a collective story of Singapore’s rich reading culture, while extending the READ30 celebrations online. More details will be shared soon!
And that’s just the beginning — stay tuned for more highlights, including the immersive Worlds Within – Marquee Experience and the much-anticipated Presidential Pop-up Library, coming your way soon!
Nurturing a nation of readers: A look back at Read! Fest through the years
Read! Fest is a biennial festival organised by NLB to celebrate the joy of reading and inspire all to read. In 2016, it became a part of the National Reading Movement, encouraging Singaporeans to Read More, Read Widely, and Read Together. Since its debut in 2014, NLB has seen an incredible response to this flagship festival, reaching more than 2 million participants through in-person and online programmes, installations, an interactive literary trail and Read For Books across eight editions of Read! Fest.
This year, the festival takes on special significance with READ30, a commemorative edition marking NLB’s 30th anniversary. To fuel a passion for reading, READ30 transforms the city into an immersive reading trail, bringing surprising and delightful literary experiences to everyday spaces. Through creative partnerships and captivating pop-up experiences that fuel a passion for reading, NLB invites all Singaporeans to read, learn and discover – anytime, anywhere.
-END-
About National Library Board
The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 28 libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore's history through its rich collections in Singapore and the region.
NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services, and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995 as a statutory board, NLB is under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI).
For more information, please visit the NLB website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.
For media queries, please contact:
Zoey Tan
Weber Shandwick, Singapore
+65 9073 6422
ZTan@webershandwick.com