In celebration of World Book Day on April 23, the National Library of Public Information organizes a different themed program each year. This year, under the theme of “Reading × Sports,” the library has expanded the stage for reading promotion beyond the bookshelves and into the world of sports, creating a two-month reading-and-fitness carnival that connects spaces across the entire library. Whether they are library patrons, sports enthusiasts, or families with children, visitors can all experience the joy and beauty of reading through this vibrant event.

2026 is set to be a landmark year for international sports, with the FIFA World Cup, the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy, the Asian Games, and the World Baseball Classic all taking place in succession, fueling an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm for sports. Sensing this momentum, the National Library of Public Information（NLPI）has launched Just Read It, a campaign that brings sports into everyday life while promoting reading and encouraging people to rediscover its essence.

In fact, reading and sports share a similar nature: both are driven by personal interest, and both require sustained commitment to yield results over time. “Reading is exercise for the mind, nurturing inner strength in literacy, while sports are the practice of the body, providing outward momentum,” said Tsai Tsai Ching, a librarian in the Guidance and Promotion Division at NLPI. By bringing the two together, the library hopes readers can develop both stillness and movement, cultivate themselves inwardly and outwardly, and ultimately find their own joy in reading.

Take on the “Read-and-Move Missions”- When Games Become a Gateway to Reading 

“Games are one of the most effective bridges connecting the public with reading. Through game-based, mission-oriented design, readers can become familiar with the NLPI’s collections and distinctive services, while also increasing their motivation and interest in reading,” said Tsai Tsai Ching. She explained that the “Read-and-Move Missions” are themed around sports, with the National Library of Public Information imagined as a sports arena, where different athletic events are spread across its various floors. By borrowing books in exchange for a challenge card, readers can take on the following six sporting events.

On the first floor, “Ace Pitcher” invites participants to throw soft baseballs at a nine-square target, echoing the excitement surrounding the World Baseball Classic. On the third floor, “Hole in One” at the Silver Picture Book Garden offers a mini-golf putting experience, allowing visitors to enjoy the fun of golf in a lush, green setting. Outdoors, “Jump Master” features height markers at 50, 100, and 150 centimeters, giving visitors a chance to test their high-jump skills. “Kick to Victory,” presented in the form of table football, taps into the fever of the FIFA World Cup, while “Muscle Warrior” provides strength-training experiences with dumbbells and resistance bands. There is also a 3D rock-climbing scene inspired by the trending topic of free climbing “101,” creating a visually striking climbing effect that is both fun and highly topical.

On the day of the opening ceremony, April 18, the Eastern Broadcasting YOYO Family will also appear at the National Library of Public Information to kick off the event with their signature singing-and-dancing performance. Their familiar melodies and energetic choreography will instantly transform the library into a joyful paradise for families and children.

The venue will also feature booths hosted by publishers, civic sports centers, reading promoters, and other related organizations, offering a variety of activities such as fitness assessments and free book giveaways. In addition, the library has prepared a special surprise with the launch of the DIDIM smart fitness gaming experience, allowing visitors to get moving while enjoying reading. In the afternoon, participants are invited to bring their own yoga mats and join a session of lawn yoga and outdoor stretching, coming together to create a rich and lively reading-and-sports carnival.

In 2026, a special new feature titled “Baseball Classroom” will combine reading with baseball knowledge. The program integrates reading lectures with interactive competitions, and the NLPI will announce a recommended reading list in advance so that participants can prepare by reading ahead.

On the day of the event, May 30, participants may use their mobile phones or tablets to join a live online quiz competition. Questions will cover basic baseball knowledge as well as extended content from the recommended reading list. The top three participants in the final competition will receive special prizes.

Through this event design, the “Reading Home Run” program not only gains a new interactive element but also allows the public to reconnect with the spirit and original purpose of the initiative. When knowledge and sports come together, participants are no longer simply “borrowing books to get tickets”; instead, they come to understand baseball culture through reading and, in turn, develop a deeper love for reading.

The 2026 Reading Home Run ticket redemption campaign will run from June 2 to July 12. During the campaign period, readers may redeem one weekday CTBC Brothers home game ticket voucher by either completing the task of borrowing 10 books or using 10 points through the Reading Passbook system. In this way, every act of reading becomes the motivation to cheer in the ballpark.

Cross-Sector Collaboration - Mutual Benefits for Libraries and Civic Sports Centers 

For this year’s program, the NLPI has launched a cross-sector collaboration with the Taichung City Sports Bureau, creating a new model that brings together sports and reading promotion. Centered on the idea of audience exchange, the initiative encourages library readers to step into civic sports centers while also drawing sports enthusiasts into the library.

The National and Children’s Sports Centers under the Sports Bureau play a key role in this collaboration, with the nearby Changchun National and Children’s Sports Center serving as the main hub for deeper partnership activities.

The first step is to bring reading resources into civic sports centers. The National Library of Public Information has set up themed Reading Refill Stations—featuring posters and promotional materials—at sports centers across Taichung, with a focus on digital reading resources and the concept of “recharging your reading energy after exercise.” By simply scanning a QR code, visitors can access the library’s digital resources free of charge.

Some sports centers have also placed books provided by the library on site, encouraging people to enjoy light reading before or after exercise, or during breaks. Just as a refreshment station helps athletes restore their physical energy, a Reading Refill Station is designed to nourish the mind.

In addition, the National Library of Public Information has invited professional coaches from the Changchun National and Children’s Sports Center to lead a range of sports experience classes at the library for different age groups. The program includes activities such as movement classes for young children, fitness sessions for older adults, yoga-based rhythm training, and core strength workouts. Readers who complete the book-borrowing task can join these sports experience classes free of charge. If they become interested in a particular program, they may also go on to register for additional courses at the sports center itself.

Through this collaborative model, the library becomes a bridge connecting reading communities and sports communities, while the civic sports center also provides free trial vouchers to participating readers, creating a two-way exchange of resources that benefits both sides. The NLPI hopes to gradually deepen its partnerships with civic sports centers across Taichung in the future, so that the integration of reading and exercise can become part of the city’s culture and everyday life.

Making Reading an Everyday Workout 

Reading is not merely a static act of sitting in a chair and turning pages. It can be a baseball thrown across the field, a golf ball put into the hole, or a book picked up at a refill station after exercise. For World Book Day 2026, perhaps it is time to set aside the stereotype that reading is serious and exercise is exhausting. Take a challenge card and make your way through every floor of the NLPI putting, jumping highland when you get tired, curling up with a book and read. Between movement and stillness, there is no real boundary.

Reading and exercise can be as natural as breathing. Try making reading the most everyday form of “exercise”!