For the love of reading! New strategies to engage the next generation of readers

The National Library Board (NLB) Singapore has long been a stalwart champion of reading. The NLB supports reading in informal and social contexts, focusing on reading for pleasure as a sustainable and enriching activity. In recent times, reading for pleasure has faced increased competition from time-starved children and young adults, and other forms of entertainment. This paper will cover NLB’s new Readers for Life strategy, under the Libraries for Life framework, aimed at cultivating the love of reading in our children and young adults in a holistic and relevant manner. It includes the wide range of efforts to better equip librarians with the essential knowledge and skills to cope with the demanding roles of public librarianship.