According to The Straits Times, the National Library Board (NLB) launched the ReadSG initiative, aiming to encourage individuals to develop daily reading habits by offering financial incentives. The five-year program debuted on the government-citizen interaction platform CrowdTask SG on 6/9, coinciding with the annual National Reading Month in Singapore each september.

Currently in its pilot phase until 31/12, the project will continue to update features and improvements based on public feedback. Organizers aim for 150,000 registrants by 9/2027. For each 15-minute reading session, participants receive 20 virtual coins, needing to collect 1,000 coins to redeem cash. After 50 days, the total reward amounts to one SGD. However, the system only records one session per day.

Beyond monetary incentives, participants can receive limited-edition souvenirs from the library if they attend events organized by the NLB or its partners from september to november. Readers can also join an NLB charity campaign, where organizers hope to accumulate 7,5 million reading minutes, equivalent to 150,000 SGD, between 6/9 and 7/10. This fund will support disadvantaged individuals.

People attend the ReadSG program launch event at the National Library of Singapore, Bugis district, 6/9. Photo: Instagram NLB Singapore

An NLB representative stated that the initiative aims to help citizens develop sustainable reading habits through small steps, beginning with 15 minutes of daily reading. According to executive director Melissa Tam, the initiative emerged because people can easily access vast amounts of information and content but spend little time reflecting. She believes that regular reading fosters critical thinking, imagination, empathy, and concentration.

"Ultimately, we want to see a nation of inquisitive, reflective, and discerning readers, equipped with sufficient knowledge to adapt to an increasingly complex world," Tam added.

President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam is currently the patron of ReadSG. At the campaign launch ceremony at the National Library Building, he stated: "If we want to make an impact on a broad range of citizens – from the young to the middle-aged and the elderly – we need patience because habits form gradually. five years is not a long time, but we hope to see a change in our habits."

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (center) and his wife, Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam (right), at the reading initiative launch. Photo: Instagram NLB Singapore

CNN observed that Singapore's initiative comes at a time when people are increasingly losing focus and their passion for reading. Global educators are currently struggling against "brain rot" – a decline in cognitive ability due to consuming too much shallow online content – and frequent negative news scrolling.

While the initiative has positive objectives, the news outlet reported that the program has sparked debates about whether cash truly fosters a lifelong love for books. Some critics advise people to read for passion rather than financial gain. Researchers also warn that financial incentives are not necessarily a sustainable way for individuals to maintain habits, especially once the rewards disappear.

"Monetary rewards may be effective for those who already have some inclination towards reading. However, for individuals who inherently lack interest in books, offering money is unlikely to create lasting, intrinsic motivation to sustain the activity," said Charissa Ng, a clinical psychologist in Singapore.

Another segment of opinion suggests that anything that can encourage a person to read in "this era full of distractions" is not bad.

"I would rather see people reading and missing their train or bus than having to listen to the constant sounds of TikTok or AI-generated Chinese films playing on public transport," Charmaine Lim, a 28-year-old book and lifestyle content creator in Singapore, told CNN.

Trinh Lam (according to The Straits Times, Independent, CNN)