15 Years of Excellence in Reading Promotion

Abstract

In 2007, Macao Library and Information Management Association successfully advocated for the recognition of the occupation of reading promoters with the official support of the Education and Youth Development Bureau. This opened up an alternative career route at school libraries for people with a university degree in language, literature, pedagogy, or library and information science. For quality assurance, reading promoters must complete the official reading promotion training programme of no less than 120 hours within 3 years into their role at the school library. Ever since the establishment of the profession of reading promotion, Macau has seen gradual and significant increase in scores of all PISA subjects – reading, mathematics, and science. This is evidence that the value of accessible reading and creative activities reaches beyond reading. Today in 2023, with over 15 years of experience in this profession, we want to share the impacts we see and the know-how to inspire sustaining support for reading promotion at school libraries.

The establishment of Reading Promoter offers different decent job opportunities (SDG 8) and fosters better formal education (SDG 4).