Jointly organized by the National Library of Public Information and CTBC Bank, the “Reading Home Run” campaign creatively combines reading with sports to encourage readers across Taiwan to engage more with books. Participants can accumulate points by borrowing books and redeem them for electronic ticket vouchers to CTBC Brothers baseball games, creating a unique reading celebration that resonates between the library and the ballpark.

“Reading Home Run” celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025 with its largest edition yet connecting 69 partner libraries across Taiwan. For the first time, Tainan and Kaohsiung have joined the initiative, marking a new milestone in linking all six major municipalities.

This year’s theme, “Illustrating Youth”, highlights the charm of picture books to encourage parent-child reading, making reading an essential part of growing up.

During the event, participants who borrow 10 books or accumulate 10 reading points at designated libraries can redeem a weekday home game ticket voucher for the CTBC Brothers baseball team. In addition, public libraries across counties and cities will host themed book exhibitions, with 11 online bookstores joining in the campaign to promote reading. The initiative invites everyone to “Love Reading, Support Sports”—transforming the power of reading into a force of cheer and enthusiasm!

Building a Bridge for Parent-Child and Youth Reading 

In response to the 2025 “Reading Home Run – Illustrating Youth” themed book exhibition, the National Library of Public Information （NLPI） has carefully selected 150 recommended titles, organized into six major thematic categories: “Sports Knowledge,” “Move for Health,” “Picture Book Sports Day,” “Passion on the Field,” “Life in Motion,” and “Dreaming Youth.” For example, in the “Picture Book Sports Day” category, the title A Day at the Baseball Stadium uses vivid illustrations to introduce young readers to stadium facilities, game rules, and professional roles making sports knowledge accessible and engaging. In the “Dreaming Youth” section, manga takes center stage, with selections like Hajime no Ippo, aiming to connect with teens through the visual language of comics and encourage them to explore a broader range of books. To support this, NLPI has also established a manga zone on the 5th floor teen reading area, designed to attract young readers and serve as an entry point for extended reading habits.

The book exhibition is also held simultaneously online, in collaboration with 11 online bookstores and platforms, including San Min Bookstore, Bear Loves Reading, Kingstone, Lang Lang Reading, Books.com.tw, Caves Book, Eslite Online, Rakuten Kobo, Taaze, HyRead eBooks, Readmoo, and the NLPI eBook Service Platform. This hybrid format expands access and provides the public with a diverse and enriching reading experience.

Notably, this year’s exhibition places picture books at the heart of the theme. NLPI Director Ma Xiang Ping explains that picture books are not only the starting point for children’s reading but also serve as a crucial bridge for parent-child reading. Through colorful, engaging illustrations and narratives, children are introduced to the world of baseball. Inspired by the campaign, many hidden baseball fans are also bringing their children to the library, making reading a shared emotional connection—and an ideal opportunity to build lifelong reading habits together.

Youth Reading Ambassadors　Leading the Way into the Future 

Since launching “Reading Home Run” in 2016, the NLPI has continuously promoted reading by integrating sports, reading, and daily life. In 2020, the program was voted #1 in the National Library’s "Top 5 Most Loved Reading Campaigns by the Public."

In 2022, it achieved international recognition by receiving Social Return on Investment (SROI) certification from the UK-based Social Value International (SVI). The campaign demonstrated an impressive SROI generating NT$8.99 in social value for every NT$1 invested making it the highest SROI rated project among Taiwan’s public sector initiatives. This achievement highlights the program’s lasting social impact and public value.

The “2025 Reading Home Run” campaign continues to deepen its book exhibition content, expand the integration of digital and physical platforms, and place greater emphasis on connecting with the younger generation.

This year’s themed exhibition features three local student representatives—Chang Yu Ning from Taichung Stella Matutina Girls' High School, Wang Tzu Han from Taichung Municipal Sin-She Senior High School, and Hsieh Chiao-Yi from Ivy High School—as Youth Reading Ambassadors, symbolizing the rising power of a new generation of readers and showcasing the vibrant energy of youth.

In addition, the campaign invites CTBC Brothers baseball star Hsu Chi Hung, CTBC DEA basketball player Huang Hong Han, and CTBC Flying Oysters esports team member Shen Tsung Hua （Driver） to serve as Annual Reading Promotion Ambassadors. By harnessing the appeal of sports and pop culture, the initiative aims to narrow the gap between young people and libraries, making reading more relatable and inspiring to the next generation.