Birthday celebration at Central Public Library, 12 Nov 2010

No, it's not that the public libraries are starting to hold birthday parties for library-goers (although...)




I was at the Central Public Library yesterday, for a meeting. It so happened the CTPL library staff threw a birthday bash for the library. Library customers were included of course.




There was cake, which the library staff cut and served to customers. A bunch of kids, there for a Class Visit session, were unabashedly tucking into the cake (which made the library staff happy of course).




The adult customers were more shy. Our Senior Director & Chief Librarian (Public Libraries), pictured on the left, gamely approached them and personally served them cake.


For the rest of the day, there were tokens to be redeemed (for those who borrowed library items), games to be played, Polaroid pictures to be taken, Henna painting...










... there was also a Nat Geo exhibition (I saw people playing with remote control cars dressed up as animals, in a safari mockup).


Central Public library opened its doors five years ago, together with the opening of the National Library.

Here's to more good years :)

How Singapore authors can get NLB to consider their books for acquisition

NOTE: This post is intended to share information as a matter of general interest, to the few readers of this blog. Plus, it's an easy reference for an increasingly FAQ directed to me. It is NOT an official response from the NLB. Please contact the NLB for confirmation/ clarifications for related enquiries. But for the record, I've verified the information with my colleagues (accurate as of this post) and it's the same information as what I reply back to my friends.

Here's a fairly typical question that some friends and contacts have asked of me:

... I have just published my book... how do I approach the NLB or NLB supplier to have my book made available through the National or Public Libraries?

My reply is that they should email NLB (helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg) directly, and include some or all of the following information:

• Title
• Author
• ISBN
• Synopsis
• Sample pages
• Scanned covers
• Website, blogs, Facebook entries etc. 
• Where the work is available (distributor, bookstore, website)

The information will help the relevant department review and make the initial assessment. If found suitable as collections for the National or Public Libraries, then they would arrange with their vendors to buy the titles.

Recently, I had a conversation with my colleague, and I posed these two questions:

• What if Singapore authors wished to send, at their own cost, physical copies to NLB?
• What are the general considerations when NLB assesses the suitability of works in general?

I learned that the initial email information would suffice. Sending unsolicited physical items/ books for review was not desired and could pose problems for staff (I could appreciate why, e.g. what to do with the physical copies? Can't sell them or give them away outright).

My colleague gave the assurance that NLB does try to comprehensively collect Singapore authors' works, including self-published ones. In most cases, copies would be purchased and made available for reference or lending.

As for the criteria and considerations in assessing the suitability of works, like any library in the world, there is a mix of policies, guidelines, professional judgment and operational practicalities.

Foremost tends to be the needs and interests of the end customers. Other considerations include the availability of other existing titles in the collections, the available budget at that point in time, as well as space considerations.

In general, the following criteria are considered:

• Authority and reputation of the author, publisher, producer or illustrator
• The literary, creative, scholarly or technical merit of the work
• Accuracy of information
• Value of work, relative to its purchase cost
• Whether the work or author has received literary prizes or recognitions
• Reviews in other professional journals and popular media
• Timeliness/ currency of the content
• Current public interest; the relevance of the work to contemporary issues
• Is the work likely to appeal to the general public or a very niche audience?
• The quality of the illustrations
• The durability of the binding and quality of the paper

BTW, all Singapore-published works -- print and non-print -- are required, by the NLB Act, need to be deposited in the Legal Deposit (see deposit.nl.sg). Except for works that are private or confidential in nature.

The Legal Deposit FAQ page has more details.

NLB's Customer Appreciation Day + 15-Year Anniversary

A few hours ago, I was at the Central Public Library for the launch of NLB's Customer Appreciation Day.


The event is into its fifth year. Its the NLB way of thanking library customers for their support.

Hours before the speech and presentation ceremony, kids were invited to create figurines from polymer clay.


Here's a shot of three of the library's Junior Reading Ambassador rehearsing their show.


[Fast-forward to the presentation ceremony] After the speech by the Chief Executive of NLB, awards were given out to library customers. Some were for demonstration of good library etiquette while some were recognised for being avid readers/ users of the library.




Seated right in front of me was an avid reader! I spotted this child reading a compilation of the READ! Singapore stories, which was part of the goodie bag for guests.


Guests queuing for food and refreshments after the simple award ceremony. Staff were on hand to mingle and interact with them as well.


NLB 15-YEAR Anniversary
This September is also the 15-Year Anniversary of the formation of National Library Board.



Here's a non-comprehensive list of highlights in the 15-Year NLB history

• 1996 - Jurong West Public Library; first NLB library in a shopping mall.
• 1997 - Library Supply Centre at Changi opens.
• 1998 - Bukit Panjang Public Library; first to prototype Colour Coding of library books. This was also the year of the centralised library sale of weeded books (used to be held at individual libraries). Bukit Batok PL was the first library to have the RFID electronic library management system. Made possible the instant online clearing of loans as soon as items are dropped in.
• 1999 - library@orchard opens; designed and positioned as a lifestyle library (targeted at adults; no Children's section) located at Ngee Ann City, in the hub of Singapore's shopping belt. This was also the year NLB launched the Student Virtual Community web service. It was a service concept ahead of its time, where the site offered online collaborative features like file/ document sharing and repository -- kinda like a more primitive version of Google Docs and YouTube.
• 2000 - Marine Parade PL opens; the first NLB library co-located within a community club. This was also the year Asian Children's Festival opens.
• 2001 - "Born to Read, Read to Born" reading initiative launched.
• 2002 - library@esplanade opens, the first performing arts public library. That was also the year Sengkang PL opened; touted as a DIY library (has a concierge service rather than a full-fledged service counter).
• 2004 - kidsREAD initiative launched. Jurong Regional Library was also re-opened, featuring a dedicated floor for teens. In that year, the National Library building at Stanford Road closes to public.
• 2005 - READ! Singapore launches. The new National Library building opens at Victoria street.
• Library 2010 plan published. Email reminder service launched too.
• 2007 - www.deposit.nl.sg launched.
• 2008 - Molly the Mobile Library launched.
• 2009 - Library In Your Pocket service launched. Quest, a reading initiative targeted at reluctant readers, was also launched.
• 2010 - newspapers.nl.sg launched. Facebook app launched as well.

This page from the NLB corporate website has a more comprehensive list of the milestones (1995 - 2008).

Loads of things happening from now till 15 Sept ("15 Treasures", "15 Lucky Draw winners" etc.). Check out the pl.sg website for more details.

Here's to 15 years more!

Chance to win NDP '09 Preview tickets & Fun Packs: Public Libraries Singapore - READiscover Singapore!

This is a collaborative effort between the Public Libraries Singapore and the National Day Celebrations '09 organisers.

From the Public Libraries webpage - www.pl.sg/readiscover:

WIN NDP PREVIEW TICKETS & FUN PACKS

Borrow FOUR items for a chance to win. At least one item must be from the Singapore Collection [SING].

• 1 Jul - 31 Jul prize: Four pairs of NDP preview tickets
• 1 Aug - 31 Aug prize: 100 NDP Fun-packs

Terms & conditions:

• Loan receipts for FOUR items must be dated 4th - 26th July 2009.
• Draw date will be on Monday 27th July 2009. Winners will be notified by phone. NDP 1st August 2009 Preview tickets are to be collected at Woodlands Regional Library.
• At least one Item must be from the Singapore Collection [SING].
• Loan receipts cannot be used in conjunction with other reading promotions.
• Combined loan receipts are allowed but must be under the same borrower's name.
• The Library reserves the right to amend any of the above terms & conditions.
• There is no limit on the number of entries submitted.
• NLB's decision is final.

The library has also prepared a list of suggested reads (1.2MB PDF) from the Singapore Collections. The book are selected based on the National Day Celebrations '09 themes: "Our Way of Life", "Our Places and Streets", "People & Stories of Singapore", "Our History & Heritage", "Our Heroes".



Extracts of selected books are posted at the Read and Reap blog:


More information at www.pl.sg/readiscover (last accessed 19 Jul 09).

NLB Announces Library Policy Changes To Encourage Responsible Library Usage and Prompt Return of Borrowed Library Materials

This was announced today. From the NLB press release page (emphasis are mine):

Changes to Library Policy
From 1 April 2009, the following policy changes will be implemented:

Disruption of Borrowing Privileges
Members with unpaid library fines and fees will have their borrowing privileges disrupted. They can immediately start to borrow again once they pay up the outstanding amount. With this policy, members can no longer accumulate unpaid library fines and fees. The change will not affect the majority of members who return their borrowed materials on time as well as those who are prompt in paying their library fines and fees.

Removal of Renewal Fee
NLB will remove the $0.50 renewal fee for each borrowed item to encourage members to renew their borrowed materials when necessary. The current policy of allowing each borrowed item to be renewed once will remain unchanged. This policy change benefits members who are frequent users of library services. It also addresses the general feedback that members sometimes incur library fines because they require more time to read their borrowed items... ...

Also stated in the press release: "Members who return borrowed materials promptly will not be affected and the policy changes will not cause any additional burden to the general public financially."

The press release also includes details of the Mass Reminder Mailing Exercise (again, emphasis are mine):

From April 2009, members who have incurred library fines and fees above $0.30 and outstanding for more than three months will receive reminder mailers. An administrative charge will be levied on recipients of repeat reminder mailers. In addition, NLB will display reminder messages on loan receipts and on the screens of borrowing stations and library eKiosks to remind members of unpaid library fines and fees. Members are also encouraged to sign up for NLB's free email or SMS notification and reminder services to receive alerts on impending due dates and overdue borrowed items.

The policy changes and the improvements to the notification processes are the result of NLB's review and consideration of the feedback and suggestions by members of the public during the last Mass Reminder Mailing Exercise.

Personally, I feel these two policy amendments does greater justice to the majority of NLB members who have always returned their items on time. I mean, it's only fair that those who receive repeat reminder notices should pay for the extra costs -- not members who return items on time.

The good thing is that now, everyone gets to renew items for free.

Of course forgetfulness is a human trait. Which is why it's a good idea to sign up for the free reminder services.


You can receive reminders and alerts via email or SMS.

Depending on what you sign up for, you'd get reminders on when your items are due, confirmation for the items you've returned at the bookdrop, alerts that your reserved items are ready for collection, notifications on the cost of lost/damaged items (if any), and expiry of your premium/foreign membership.

Here's an example of an email reminder I received recently:


I chose a 7-day daily reminder, so that if for some reason the system fails to send out a reminder, I'm likely to still get a reminder within my due date.

And when the item is returned, I'd get this notice (it tells me how many items were returned, the date/ time which they were successfully cancelled):


When you return items at the bookdrop, there's an indicator light that tells you if the item is successfully returned or not. The email/ SMS confirmation notice serves as documentary proof, in case you ever need it. It's also useful if you get someone else to return the items for you, and you wish to receive direct confirmation [if you're thinking that email or SMS notices can be faked, the library has other ways to verify].

So we have:

• Physical confirmation of items returned at the bookdrop
• Email/ SMS confirmation of items returned at the bookdrop
• Email/ SMS alerts on when items are due

(Hmm... maybe we need one more type of alert: of items charged to our account. Could be useful as a record of items borrowed and/ or notice of unauthorised use of the library account).

With all the alert services being provided for, I think ultimately we who borrow items from the public library must remember one thing: "Personal Responsibility".

Enough said.

[Update: NLB FAQs on the Fines Recovery Exercise and Changes to the Library Policy, 9 February 2009]

Three new NLB websites

Just launched today.

From this one single website...


... to these three dedicated websites:

The NLB corporate site - www.nlb.gov.sg



The National Library website - www.nl.sg

"The National Library website is the web presence of the National Library and its statutory, heritage, advocacy and service functions. It aims to be a trusted source of knowledge, particularly with regards to content relating to, or originating from Singapore."

The Public Library Website - www.pl.sg

"The Public Library website is the online presence of the network of public libraries in Singapore. It aims to provide, promote and enhance the use of public library resources and services."

It may surprise (confuse?) many people that the "National Library" and the "Public Library" isn't the same.

Singapore is one of the few countries whose National Library and the Public Library system are managed by one entity. In most countries, these two systems are managed separately and serve different purposes.

I found this page from the "Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science" (published in 1978), where it sheds some light on how Singapore's National and Public Library system was setup:


The new distinct sites serve to emphasise such a difference.

I'll blog more about the services and features in the new Public Library website, in another post.

NLB archives Singapore blogs

As reported in The Straits Times, "Local blogs being added to S'pore's historical archives" (7 Jan '08) by Keith Lin:

The National Library Board (NLB) is adding blogs to Singapore's historical archives as part of its efforts to retain a comprehensive record of online content.

In all, the library aims to archive some 100 blogs by the end of the year.

Eleven have been selected so far, ranging from offerings such as Air-Conditioned Nation (cherian.blogspot.com) by media academic Cherian George, to the satirical Mr Brown (www.mr brown.com).

Mr Raju Buddharaju, the library's director of digital resources and services, described blogs as an 'invaluable' source of news and social commentary for the present and future generations of Singaporeans.

'Content from blogs often offers views which would otherwise not be accessible from mainstream media,' he said.

Even so, the library is selective when it comes to deciding which blogs to archive.

Only those produced by individuals who are recognised experts in their respective fields of knowledge, famous personalities or award-winning blogs will be considered, Mr Raju said.

The library will take digital snapshots of the selected blogs at least once a year and post their contents on its web archive - available at www.nlb.gov.sg. Access is open and free to the public.

...

Said Dr George, who has three blogs looking at various aspects of Singapore media and politics in the archives: 'This is not about the authorities giving legitimacy to individual blogs.

'It is part of a welcome movement in Singapore to recognise the value of multiple perspectives in telling the Singapore story.'

Link to the free ST article, here.



Back in Oct '06, when the Web Archive Singapore project was announced, it drew the attention of well-known Singaporean blogger mrbrown, who created a special podcast episode on the topic.

So it's official mrbrown!

And you probably can sleep a little easier, knowing that snapshots of your blog will be available for posterity. : )

Incidentally I spotted Jean's post, where she wrote:

At first read, it seems like elitism at its best again. Then again, we shouldn’t be so petty about it, right?

She was responding to the web selection guideline of "choosing individuals who are recognised as experts in their fields, famous personalities or are award winning".

Just like for physical libraries, it's impossible to acquire everything there is. Inevitably there will be some criteria imposed on the What, When and Who to archive.

But just like the case of physical libraries, if you have something (i.e. a blog) that you highly recommend, make a suggestion! I'm sure NLB would give it due consideration.

BTW I don't speak for NLB. Some people have emailed me to enquire about the project. I'm more than happy to redirect your emails, though it's faster to enquire at NLB direct.

You can also read the FAQs about the Web Archive Singapore.
[related post: How to access the NLB Web Archive Singapore (WAS)]

Closure of library@orchard: D-Day (Part 2)

[From Part 1]

One of our library@orchard citizen reporter, Jean, was "live" blogging while waiting for the event to start. She arrived at the library early to make some final touches to her video tribute to library@orchard.



Hey, don't think she's a person with too much time on her hands. She and Alice (another of library@orchard's citizen reporter) are PhD. candidates in one of our local university. Speaking of Alice, here's her post about the Moving On Party).

At 6pm, the fun began.

The library had a magician going around the library, inviting people to take part in his magic tricks.


Library customers could also have commemorative photos taken, and printed out on the spot.


It was still "business as usual" for the library. Staff were still serving people at the counter.


At the entrance, we had student volunteers helping to register guests.


Moving around the library, I noticed quite a few people whipping out their cameras and snapping away.

None of the library staff had the heart to stop them. After all, it was the last day of capturing the library@orchard in photos and saving it for prosperity posterity. Who knows, perhaps one day they would be the ones to contribute their photos back to the library collection.

There was food for guests (about 300 guests registered). The food was gone, fast!


We were treated to songs, sung and performed beautifully by... arrgh, I forgot their names! (can someone kindly fill me in by leaving a comment?)


When they sang "Leaving on a jet plane", I bet there were tears in the house.



While the performance was taking place at the Programme Zone, it was also "business as usual" for some library customers.


My colleagues, Ian (Manager, Children's Library Services) and Jaclyn (Librarian), did an excellent job being the MCs.


At one point, there was a technical hitch so Ian got Jean to share some thoughts about blogging for library@orchard, among other things.


There was a prize-giving to winners of a loan promotion (iPod Nanos!), more videos (which I'll elaborate in Part 3), and then the NLB Board members penned their words
on a board as a final parting gesture of sorts.


Finale: 9pm.

Everyone was ushered out of the library (staff included).

The glass doors were locked as a symbolic gesture of the closure.



There were tears from some staff, library volunteers and some members of the public.

The library@orchard obviously meant a lot to them.

While the new "library located in Orchard Road" will not be the same as library@orchard for some people, NLB promises that it will be better. So by 2010, we'll see our library@orchard librarians Jillian and Lynn welcome library customers to the new premises:

(btw, staff are assigned to other branches; No, they don't get paid vacations when the library is closed, lol)

Next: Part 3.