User:Sengkang/Sketchpad/Sengkang Community Library
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The Straits Times (Singapore)
Self-service library opens in Sengkang; There will be no service counters and only one staff librarian will be based there; volunteers will help run the place
November 24, 2002 Sunday
Sim Chi Yin
WHEN Sengkang Community Library opens on Dec 1 at the Compass Point Shopping Centre, it will have no service counters.
Users will also have a hard job trying to spot a librarian, because just one will be holding the fort at this self-service library, which is meant to serve about 61,000 residents of Sengkang and Punggol.
The only other full-time employee will be a security guard. But volunteers will help run the place.
Clients who need help navigating the 1,800 sq m facility with its 120,000 books, magazines and newspapers must pick up the phone and call a 'cybrarian' based at the Tampines library.
The 16 cameras mounted on the ceiling of the Sengkang branch help him to monitor things remotely.
The borrowing and returning of books are also automated.
Ms Tay Ai Cheng, senior director of library management and operations, does not think the Do-It-Yourself approach will pose major problems.
'Readers have been very receptive to the self-service facilities services in all our libraries over the past six years,' she said.
But if they still prefer the human touch, they can also consult volunteers, who will patrol the library.
The National Library Board hopes to recruit 200 volunteers over the next two years to help out at its 21 branches.
In Sengkang, 26 of them, aged between 20 and 62, have signed up to help reshelve books or for story-telling duty.
Housewife Eileen Tan, 49, who will put in two hours a week, said: 'I hope to help people in whatever way I can.'
For the first month, two library staff members or volunteers will be present at any one time, to get people used to serving themselves.
Sengkang resident June Lim, 30, thinks it might be a problem for older library users.
'It's okay for younger people like me if everything is computerised, but older people like my parents might be put off.'
Madam Ng Ailing, 33, is more optimistic.
She said: 'Once people are familiar with the system, they should be able to manage on their own.'
LIBRARIES (91%); VOLUNTEERS (90%); LIBRARIANS (90%); SECURITY GUARDS (76%);
SECTION: TECH & SCIENCE
LENGTH: 331 words
LOAD-DATE: November 25, 2002
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
[edit] 2
The Straits Times (Singapore)
Sengkang has the first DIY library; There will only be one librarian at the Sengkang Community Library
October 5, 2002 Saturday
THE National Library Board (NLB)'s latest branch will be a Do-It-Yourself affair.
The Sengkang Community Library, located at the fourth floor of Compass Point, will open on Dec 1.
The 1,800-sq m addition to the NLB's string of shopping centre libraries is planned so that users will be able to access the library's collections and services with minimal aid from librarians.
There will only be one librarian to keep an eye on things.
Ms Tay Ai Cheng, senior director of library management and operations, says: 'We are confident that our members will not experience any difficulties using our services as all our other libraries have been automated and borrowing and returning of books have been a breeze.'
The library, with a collection of 120,000 books, magazines and newspapers, will serve about 61,000 residents living in Sengkang and Punggol.
Besides the DIY concept, the NLB is also inviting artists to hang their works at the branch.
The works will be displayed prominently on a 10 m by 2.5 m wall at the entrance to the library.
Artists looking to sell their works can hang pieces there, along with their contact details for interested buyers.
A nominal fee will be charged and the NLB will also screen the works for controversial content.
This is not the first time the NLB has offered space for art.
Ms Tay says: 'The NLB has been actively helping to promote local arts. For example, the Bedok Community Library has been displaying art pieces from Damai Secondary School and students from Woodsgrove Secondary School have put up work at Sembawang Community Library.'
But this is the first time the NLB is offering space for commercial purposes.--Ong Sor Fern
Artists interested in displaying their works at Sengkang Community Library can contact Ms Zahra Aljunied, tel: 6842-8066, e-mail: zahra@nlb.gov.sg, fax: 68428081
LIBRARIES (93%); LIBRARIANS (90%); EDUCATION (66%); SECONDARY SCHOOLS (66%);
SECTION: LIFE!
LENGTH: 309 words
LOAD-DATE: October 7, 2002
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
[edit] 3
The Straits Times (Singapore)
Many improvements in Sengkang library
February 8, 2006 Wednesday
WE REFER to the letter 'High-tech library needs more tables and chairs' (ST, Jan 31) by Mr Choi Kuan Meng.
The National Library Board's 'shopping mall' libraries are smaller than the regional libraries. They are designed for those who 'browse, pick and go' and there's a faster turnover of patrons and books than other libraries. Library users are thus encouraged to borrow materials for reading at home.
The number of seats at Sengkang community library is comparable withother 'shopping mall' libraries. Nevertheless, the NLB will consider the feedback about placing some cushioned seats at Sengkang library to provide more seats as well as make them more comfortable.
We want to highlight the improvements at Sengkang library. Newspapers are now available for a week. Previously, only one day's newspapers were available for readers. The shelf designs have been upgraded. There are also plans for Sengkang library to offer more value-added programmes, including CD-ROMs that come with printed materials.
To cater to the growing young population in Sengkang, the library will work closely with the schools on library visits and mobile library services.
There will be talks for young parents and more weekly evening story-telling sessions to cater specially to working parents. Sengkang library will also work with community clubs in the area to reach out to more residents.
Sengkang residents will continue to benefit from the improvements in the library. We thank Mr Choi for his feedback and look forward to his visits to our libraries.
Jasna Dhansukhlal (Ms)Manager Corporate Communications National Library Board
LIBRARIES (94%); POPULATION GROWTH (75%); PARENTS (71%);
SECTION: ST Forum
LENGTH: 273 words
LOAD-DATE: February 7, 2006
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
