tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post109907355084948774..comments2023-11-16T18:28:45.786+08:00Comments on Rambling Librarian :: Incidental Thoughts of a Singapore Liblogarian: Between the devil and the deep blue sea: Self-studying in the public libraryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-457799790401943422009-06-02T01:45:38.856+08:002009-06-02T01:45:38.856+08:00Hi Prissy, in my experience, it's the cost. It's n...Hi Prissy, in my experience, it's the cost. It's not just "opening up the library 24 hours". There's costs for staffing, utilities, security, maintenance. Well, maybe one day some students might want to take this idea up as a project. It'll be interesting to see how the costs are worked out and whether there's any innovative workarounds. BTW Prissy, if there are 24 hr outlets to visit, wouldn't that be in competition with 24hr study places? LOL. Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. Good luck with your studies.Ivan Chewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02727226573817276108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-71396037774091616972009-06-01T15:15:09.975+08:002009-06-01T15:15:09.975+08:00being a student myself, i find it extremely frustr...being a student myself, i find it extremely frustrating to note that there's a lack of places offering a place to study. i mean like 24 hrs. the reason is that i find my house not a conducive place to study because of all the distractions and thus, go to the lib to study but i hate that it closes so early, like 9pm. i was thinking, perhaps, the government would open the library 24 hours or extend the closing time to 2 or 3 am and provide feeder buses outside these lib during the months leading to exam periods? like june/nov. it would be seriously helpful. besides, i often find the space in the library under utilized. obviously there are so much more space in the library that can contain much more tables and chairs. but nope. another time that i fail to understand that is, why are there no 24 hours bookstore, study places catering to students? singaporeans are known to be night owls but i lament the fact that there aren't much 24 hours outlets to visit after 12am. of course people might say that it isn't profitable to open a place for students to study, then how about a coffeeplace/study booth, like charge a fee of $6 for 3 hours of a booth and some snacks and drinks. it isn't too expensive and afforable for students and there's defintely a market for it.prissynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-44575842616799978422007-08-09T14:03:00.000+08:002007-08-09T14:03:00.000+08:00Came across this post when I am Googling for a pla...Came across this post when I am Googling for a place to study in Singapore - I am an adult doing part-time graduate studies, and it has been a horrid experience trying to find a place outside campus to study. I do not even have a reading table at home, and I stay far away from campus, plus the university librarys operating hours caters to full-time undergraduates than working adults like me. Sigh.Euterpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05652997589985907136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-1157337490853811512006-09-04T10:38:00.000+08:002006-09-04T10:38:00.000+08:00Very interesting. I was a student when NLB clamped...Very interesting. I was a student when NLB clamped down completely on the self-studiers and I remember feeling a bit disgruntled. I think self-studying is alright as long as the students aren't being a nuisance. People need to be more gracious and accepting of each other. A combination of self-study hours and designated areas (rather than rooms) may work.mis_nomerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01900283333103775740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-1111907267442498452005-03-27T15:07:00.000+08:002005-03-27T15:07:00.000+08:00Discovered this commentary by Gadget Dude - http:/...Discovered this commentary by Gadget Dude - <A HREF="http://gadgetdude.blogspot.com/2004/11/self-study-in-singapore-libraries.html" REL="nofollow">http://gadgetdude.blogspot.com/2004/11/self-study-in-singapore-libraries.html</A>Ivan Chewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02727226573817276108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-1099460408169392322004-11-03T13:40:00.000+08:002004-11-03T13:40:00.000+08:00Thanks, Ivan for another good thoughts. I always f...Thanks, Ivan for another good thoughts. I always find it very amusing when someone from the public uses this Achilles' heel: 'I am a taxpayer, I have the right...' to get what they want. A crazy thought came to my mind: we should be like a beach where you bring your own chairs or tables; no more hogging of seats. We can then also have a little shop selling chairs and tables. That's entrepreneurial in the library! Back to reality, there are assumptions needed to be clarified: is self-studying/doing homework not a means to learning? If it's not, then NLB should not have relaxed its policy as our vision and mission is to expand the nation's learning capacities. But if it is (which I believe is), the real issue is not on taking sides, but how we can strike a balance in meeting the need of those who visit the library for the materials and those who come for self-study/doing homework? I like your proposed solution #2. It's within our ability and perhaps a slightly bigger space for the taxplayers? It's fair enough. As for #1, there'll be an impact on staffing and an increase in cost. So need more funding? How to get more funding? It may not just be loans that only count...what do we value ultimately?oogachukkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01113469119323706626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-1099240304578124012004-11-01T00:31:00.000+08:002004-11-01T00:31:00.000+08:00Makes a lot of sense to me. As the saying goes, "I...Makes a lot of sense to me. As the saying goes, "If we can't beat them, then join them". <br /><br />But immediately after I posted the blog, some colleagues told me they still felt libraries should NOT allow self-study at all, as providing study places for students ought to be the purview of the Ministry of Education (MOE). <br /><br />However, I think the problem with getting MOE involved is that (1) it becomes a MOE-related thing, which students might automatically find it a turn off, and (2) if students are already choosing to do their studying in places other than their schools, doesn't that also say something?<br /><br />Libraries in US offer "Homework Help", which isn't odd at all. So it shouldn't be odd that Singapore public libraries offer self-study facilities too.Ivan Chewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02727226573817276108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7424038.post-1099111822730328602004-10-30T12:50:00.000+08:002004-10-30T12:50:00.000+08:00Methinks that the public worldwide considers libra...Methinks that the public worldwide considers libraries the appropriate place for self-study. To re-educate the public would require high expenditure in terms of publicity materials and staff time. Moreover, given the worldwide media image of libraries as places for the public to study, I doubt whether any publicity drive can be more than partially successful.<br />Given the problems of changing behaviour, it would probably be easier for the government to assign the library system the job of providing self-study space for the public. I would suggest open-air rooms with tables and chairs next and not within libraries. As an added service, perhaps local newspapers could be provided as well as brochure racks and bulletin boards for community and government organisations to put up literature.Slowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09219477173910647274noreply@blogger.com