“A good book has the power to influence a person's life.” Reading is like diving into an ocean of knowledge or a treasure trove of wisdom and happiness. No matter how one approaches a book, the seeds of reading will bear spiritual fruits in their mind, allowing the beauty of life to unfold fully through written words. The theme of this issue, “Books as a Companion, a Bright Future Awaits”, seeks to illuminate the light of reading through diverse promotional reading activities, and invite adults and children alike to immerse themselves in the cultural feast offered by the libraries.

In this issue, we will review a range of events launched by the Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau as part of the efforts to build a “City of Reading.” “Toddler Reading Reward Programme” is very popular among parents and children. Taipa Library has set up the “Baby Book Club – the Parent-Child Space of Infants and Toddlers.” The “Fun Family Reading” jointly hosted by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Education and Youth Development Bureau, further cultivates the reading atmosphere for families, encouraging parent-child shared reading and making books a nourishing part of children’s growth. To increase participation in reading activities among schools and students, the “Student Fun Reading Award Scheme” and the “Fun Reading School Commendation Scheme” have been introduced. Additionally, “Self-Service Holds Pickup Locker” have been installed in six schools, making it convenient for students to borrow and return books from the Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau within their campuses.

The “Library Handbook” introduces the “Voices on Paper – Culture Exhibition of Cantonese Opera and Cantonese Songs”. This exhibition is held concurrently at Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, Taipa Library and Seac Pai Van Library from September to November, aiming to introduce Cantonese opera and Cantonese songs to the public. The exhibition also invites experienced instructors to conduct a workshop “Echoes of Cantonese Music – Paintings and Photographic Moments”, which brings Cantonese operas and circular fan painting tutorials to the libraries. Relevant library collections are juxtaposed so as to allow readers to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture in the midst of a vibrant literary atmosphere.

Having published the Macao Comic Book Series for over a decade, Michael Wong was invited to the “Author’s Say.” One notable book in his series is Macao Zheng Guanying, which not only portrays Zheng Guanying's achievements in Macao through the drawings but also compiles extensive research conducted by Macao’s associations on Zheng Guanying. By exploring the connections between this famous figure and Macao's history, the Series enrich the local historical and cultural content. Additionally, the current issue “Reading Landscape” showcases this year’s reading promotion activities organized by the Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau, featuring various themes that are tailored to different communities. This issue will find out how citizens encounter books and form meaningful connections with them.

Reading is a fundamental cornerstone for comprehending the world. It is our sincere aspiration that this issue will encourage readers to enter the door of the library, clutching a “kaleidoscope of books” with a vibrant array of colors. Readers will explore the intricacies of the world, gain insights into life, and cultivate a profound sense of belonging within their hearts.