Book reading declines sharply, survey shows

reach of those living in mountainous areas, for example. Besides expanding the Book Nook project, we will also work to bring libraries closer to the people,” he said.

Ang said the 2023 NRS comes at a crucial time given the recent developments in information technology.

He expressed hope that Filipinos will “make a concerted effort to take on the challenges that the survey results are posing — namely that access to quality books remains one of the most pressing issues in the book publishing and education sectors.”

“If we recognize the issue of access as the root of this multifaceted challenge — one that requires a whole-of-nation approach — we will be able to forge a much clearer path towards a strong reading culture that encompasses all segments of the population,” Ang said.

NBDB Executive Director Charisse Aquino-Tugade emphasized the significance of enhancing NBDB’s readership efforts, particularly through initiatives like the Book Nook project which establishes reading and storytelling centers across the Philippines, featuring locally published books and serving as distribution hubs for publishers.

NBDB also launched the Philippine Book Festival to promote a robust reading culture while guiding institutional book purchases, and Booklatan sa Bayan to encourage involvement in the local book economy, Tugade said.

“Programming must work hand in hand with policy. Besides readership programs, we will push for policies that democratize distribution and enable publishers to publish more affordable books,” she said.

Despite the low levels of readership among Filipinos, overall attitudes towards books and reading remained positive.

Based on the 2023 survey, the majority of respondents recognized the importance of books beyond educational and professional contexts.

Other highlights of the survey were the most popular nonschool book genres among adults (the Bible) and children (picture books), the preferred reading language (Filipino for both age groups) and preferred formats (printed books for both age groups).

The NBDB enlisted the Social Weather Stations to conduct the 2023 NRS from November 14 to 20, 2023, with a sample size of 2,400 adults ages 18 and above, and 2,400 children ages 8 to 17.

The NRS is considered as the most comprehensive examination of Filipinos’ reading habits and preferences.

The NBDB said the results of the survey will serve as a guide in developing long-term strategic goals including policy and capacity-building initiatives, content creation endeavors, and book promotion programs aimed at sustaining government support for the book publishing industry.