The Reading Campaign was originally launched as the National Reading Month which ran from 1995 to 2005. Various reading activities and programmes were conducted every August from 1995 to 2000 and every July from 2001 to 2005. The Reading Campaign is held as an annual event. This campaign aims to produce a knowledgeable society by promoting a reading culture among Malaysians.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage, the campaign was intensified with programmes and activitieswhich were conducted throughout the year from 2006. This was to create a greater impact. Various institutions were involved in making the reading activities and the reading promotion programmes a success. The campaign was organised not only by the National Library of Malaysia, but also by state libraries, ministries, departments, government and private agencies as well as others institutions. The aim is to encourage public participation in reading activities and programmes in order to generate an awareness of the importance of reading. It is also to encourage Malaysians to read various materials and to make reading part of our culture.