Reading, carrying a contagious power of its own, joins big hands with small hands all the way forward. Vertically, it is passed down on from generation to generation; horizontally, the contagious power of it exists in everyday life. Once reading becomes a habit, it is also endowed with a robust vitality that allows spiritual interaction between people to thrive amid the reading atmosphere of the community.

In recent years, the Public Library of the Cultural Affairs Bureau has been active in promoting a community-wide reading atmosphere in Macao, spreading horizontally the “reading for pleasure” factors that have already penetrated every corner of the community. The Feature of this issue is dedicated to “Power of Pleasure Reading in Community”, and we would like to lift the veil of some encouraging results of the varying projects that aim at facilitating citywide reading culture, such as the “Worker Bookhouse” specially designed for employees, the “Literary Salon” for regular literary gatherings on a beautiful rooftop, as well as the “The MODSA Book Crossing Box Project” organised by overseas design students that can be found in different leisure spaces. Be it at work, on holiday or the fragmented moments during leisure time, with the company of books, it will make you a qualified “reading lover”.

Jogos e brincadeiras de Macau, the book introduced in this issue of Author’s Say, carries the emotions of three generations. Through the Lingnan style children’s games that were popular half a century ago, and the poems written by J.J Monteiro, an expatriate who loves Macao dearly, we are brought to the delicate sentiments embraced by the other generations. As stated in the beginning of the volume, this is the power of words that has been transmitted from generations to generations. Besides, the “Library Handbook” is filled with interesting contents, such as reviewing the highlights of this year’s “4.23 Reading Day in the City of Macao”, and underscoring the popular campaign “Reading Flash Mob”, a brand-new interactive performance that combines theatre performance and reading recommendations, which captivated both Macao residents and visitors alike in a flash. Meanwhile, “Reading Landscape” captures the “Power of Pleasure Reading” of teenagers and toddlers at the Taipa Library through atmospheric images during the summer holidays, illustrating the reading phenomenon of the new generation.

In the midst of the chaos of life, it is fortunate that we can still read, from which it becomes possible for us to glimpse the distant future and be filled with aspirations. Yet, the power of citywide reading can maximise such poetic impetus for the “Shangri-La”, and hence transform it into a source of joy.