South Africans read more than we think – but still do not have enough books, this is a statement  from one of the key findings presented in the 2023 National Reading Survey (NRS), launched alongside the National Reading Barometer (NRB) project by the Nal’ibali Trust, the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), and a multi-sector project steering committee.

GUEST: NQABAKAZI GINA - Director Nali'bali Trust 

Key findings

• 55% of adults read online materials, up from 7% in 2016.
• 52% of adults who live with children read with them, up from 35% in 2016
• Positive attitudes towards reading and reading with children have increased significantly since 2016
• 63% of homes do not have a single fiction or nonfiction book
• 65% of homes with children under age 10 do not have a single picture book
• 76% of African language speakers who read for enjoyment want to read in African languages, but book access lags behind demand
• Only 58% of adults can access a library, and most library users don’t borrow books
• A new national survey reveals that South Africans read more than we think: 83% of South Africans read in some way, whether for pleasure, to learn new things or to communicate with others, and 32% read books regularly.

 
But they still face significant challenges accessing reading material, especially in African languages, and most children are growing up without any children’s books at home. This is one of the key findings presented in the 2023 National Reading Survey (NRS), launched alongside the National Reading Barometer (NRB) project by the Nal’ibali Trust, the National Library of South Africa (NLSA), and a multi-sector project steering committee in Sandton, Johannesburg, on 13 June 2023