Stretching Existing Resources Staying Relevant

Singapore public libraries’ response to a changing & dynamic landscape

Sharon ThienAssistant Director

Public Library ServicesNational Library Board, Singapore

Key Trends

Rising Customer Expectations

Shifting values: different/new EXPERIENCES

Customer delights = BASICS

The NETWORKDED customer – individual in a global community - mobility of information & content

Changing Local Landscape

Black Swans, Wild Cards & Wicked Problems – sudden & unexpected food & fuel price increases, growing communal tensions

Increased need for corporate governance/Value-for-Money scrutiny/tighter cost-management focus

New Needs

Info/media literacy skills

A discerning and sophisticated citizenry

Timely, accurate information, relevant to needs

Engage local communities, Remain relevant to global audience

Community bonding & cohesion

Beyond economic competitiveness – Hyper Competition

Need to up the liveability index of Singapore --> rejuvenation of libraries, new experiments such as youth library in downtown Orchard Road and a Sports library

Stretching Resources, Staying Relevant

Capacity/Capability Management

Changing Service Model

The Library’s Response

Creativity thru’ Read & Learn

Active Citizenry

Library 2.0

Active Citizenry

Junior Reading Ambassadors

13 school-going children, nominated by schools and selected by NLB

3-day June camp = > public/school events; poster boys/girls

Creativity thru’ Read & Learn

MOLLY – Mobile Library

Creativity thru’ Read & Learn

• 3000 audio books of short stories feature forewords by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other political leaders

•The short stories are read by radio personalities

• Distributed free to welfare organizations

• Target Hospitality & Service Industries (eg hotels)

• Tie-up with local airline, SilkAir, for a reading on board programme

21 May – 31 August 2008

Home and Away

Video Clip

BookCross@Sg

Official Hotspots

o Café Galilees

o SMRT Taxis

o Café Cartel

Quarterly Socials

Monthly Meet-ups

Read & Reap

Promote reading through thought-provoking excerpts from books Reflect the issues and generate common conversations Pick up & read the book & suggested titles

Library 2.0

JustShare

This is a new feature that we have introduced on our Public Library website (www.pl.sg) which allows library users to share photos that they have taken according the categories available.

Shoot it. Share it. Watch the world through the lens of others.

It is a platform for users to Share and Learn through pictures.

Users can share, browse and co-manage learning-related pictures and content.

It seeks to capture learning experience through photos and text. It allows users to learn from other’s experiences, perspective and approaches that may be of interest to them, and for them to share their ideas and perspective with others.

Stretching Resources

Capacity/Capability Development

Collection Makeover – systematic refreshing of library collections

Staff Engagement – Librarians as the FACE in the community

Use of Caricatures; photos as bylines in blog posts

New recruitment strategy – direct involvement of librarians

Stretching Resources

Changing Service Model

Best sourcing

Public – Private Partnership

THANK YOU