How Communities Read: Recommended Programs

As reading books has rebounded in popularity, numerous educational initiatives, programs, and book clubs have emerged around the globe. The following are three reading programs currently run by institutions in South Korea, along with three distinctive programs from other countries. 

Reading Programs in South Korea

“Read Korea” Book Club is a nationwide reading challenge and mentoring program led by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and operated by the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea. Participants join genre-based tracks, receive periodic prompts, and attend both online and offline book talks with designated mentors. Curated guides and seasonal activities help participants build consistent reading habits.

Humanities on the Road is a library-based program sponsored by MCST, administered with Arts Council Korea and the Korean Library Association. Public libraries apply annually, offering lectures, guided reading, field visits, and smallgroup discussions. Sessions are tailored to local history and places, linking page and place so residents experience reading in everyday settings.

National Library Reading Class is a twice-yearly vacation program held at public libraries nationwide for elementary and middle-school students, supported by the National Library for Children and Young Adults. These programs teach library-use and information-search skills, run theme-based reading activities, and incorporate hands-on experiences. Provided materials help families sustain reading habits.

Global Book Initiatives

One Book, One Chicago is a citywide campaign organized by the Chicago Public Library in the U.S., selecting a common title for residents to read and discuss. Launched in 2001, it continues to host author talks, partner programs, and community discussions across library branches and civic venues. The initiative turns a single book into a shared public conversation, supported by a clear operating structure and recurring schedule.

Festival du Livre de Paris (Paris Reading Festival) is Paris’s flagship book fair, organized with the French Publishers Association in partnership with the city government. Publishers and authors meet readers for signings, launches, and open programming hosted at the Grand Palais and satellite venues. The format treats literature as a civic event, where discovery take place in public space rather than only in classrooms.

Nekomachi Club is a large, long-running Japanese reading club that organizes more than 300 discussion meetings annually, both via Zoom and in person. Participants read a selected title and share insights in small, structured groups, encouraging regular, discussion-led reading for all ages. The club’s consistent schedule and facilitation guidelines make participation both predictable and scalable. 

By Kim Min-gyeong, Reporter