On 19 April 2003 my elder son, having heard it from my wife, was telling me about this person who reads every reading materials that he can lay his hands on. I was intrigued. Later at 1.30 am while rumbling at our stack of The Straits Times for Friday’s issue of Life!, I took up our pre-owned copy of Life! (15/Apr/2003) where “Going Wild in Costa Rica” by Donna De La Cruz with its dazzling pictures caught my attention. Turning to the page before, was, lo and behold, Kelvin Tong’s “Extra, read all about it”. It was a highly gratifying read; just like a nightcap to keep snug on a wintry night.

A sequel from Kelvin so as to shed more light on the relationship between the reader and his reading materials, say, a book, will be delightful. While Kelvin may regard himself as “probably the most undiscerning reader in the world” I would much like to know how reading has benefited him aside from the fact that reading of words by, in, and of itself can be an enriching experience and that it helps to keep him occupied while waiting at bus-stops. For example, I understand that successful writers are first and foremost avid readers. And, Kelvin is a successful journalist today. (Anyone who is good enough to be a journalist with The Straits Times is a successful writer in my reckoning.)

With regards to the statistics from the National Library Board that “600,000 adult members aged 20 to 59, or half of the library’s adult members, have not borrowed a book or audio-visual material for at least a year” I think that more fact-finding is required. For sure, they may have not been borrowing, say, books, from the library, but I am sure they read the local newspapers and possibly free magazines or magazines that they are subscribing too. Also, could it be that they are reading online materials more than before, and hence less time is spent at the library?

Taking issue further with books, we also need to furnish evidence (e.g. expert findings and credible testimonials) on how reading can make one a better person. For example, is the rich old towkay, who may be illiterate but of reputable character, any worse than his poor but well-read seniors? Indeed, is our understanding of life and intellect any worse of for having not read a great number of books? All is not lost on our young like my two sons because they even have compulsory reading time before morning assembly in their school. But, we need to answer the questions for our adult population, and to do that we need to suss out the true story for the dwindled readership.

I have enjoyed using the National Library Board facilities for many years and appreciate the constant and unrelenting efforts put in by all concerned. Books are fodder for our soul and mind. It is therefore vital for us to treasure books just as we devote resources to other non-living things like buildings, trees and roads. To this end, perhaps we can take a leaf from Book, a magazine, which I have just borrowed from the National Library at Stamford Road, and we can develop something along its line. It is all about books -- all variety of books, and is very devoted to its readers. For example, in the March/April 2002 issue, two readers asked for a regular feature of writers from the past (classical literature) and they got it in Backstory. Another asked for reviews of children’s and young adult books, and, yes, you guessed it, got it.

Meanwhile, I am interested to know where a complete listing of fiction books (poetry, short story, novel, drama) by Singaporean writers can be assessed via the internet or elsewhere. Can someone please fill me on this?

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