| 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
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Feb 2012 – MOU signed between NLB & CDL
Mar 2012 Conceptualisation – NLB did a conceptualization with research done on similar concepts done by other libraries and museums around the world (Taipei Library, Beitou branch; Green Corner Project in Egypt; Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh; Chicago Public Library). This was followed by getting the public feedback on the design as well as, collection of bottles for the Tree House as well as selection of library mascot done in pre-schools and primary schools.
Mid Apr 2012 Design Review & Confirmation – The development led by ADDP Architects LLP as the design consultant headed by Mr Tang Kok Thye, who was also awarded Green Architect of the Year 2012 by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore, together with ADDP’s Principal Interior Designer, Elsie Chin. In addition, CDL brought in Interface, the world’s largest manufacturer of sustainable carpet tiles, to provide the carpeting for this library.
May 2012 – Press Conference & Announcement
Jun 2012 – Specifications Drafting
Nov 2012 to Jan 2013 Collection of Bottles & Offsite Prep – The central tree house is constructed with recyclable materials and was built using over 3,000 recycled plastic bottles. Recycled timber was also used to make the existing shelves more attractive. As it is a green library, existing materials such as wallpaper, steel and fiber glass were recycled from the various CDL building projects to blend into the new design.
Feb to Mar 2013 Mascot Voting at schools – A pre-launch Green Mascot Design Campaign was opened to all primary schools and preschools in Singapore inviting students to vote for their favourite mascot for the Children’s Library to be used for promotional and communicative purpose. A total of 5,406 votes were garnered from the school children.
Feb to Apr 2013 – Construction Work and temporary housing of the children’s Section
End Apr 2013 – Handover to NLB
31 May 2013 – Official Opening of “My Tree House”
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| 5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
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Key Partner
• City Developments Limited (CDL) provided green expertise from its vast experience of developing eco-friendly properties and integrated comprehensive sustainable practices to create green prototype library for kids.
Public sector partners
• National Climate Change Secretariat,
• National Environment Agency and
• National Parks Board
NLB worked with the above organisations to plan an interesting line-up of green themed programmed for children to take part. These programmes include storytelling sessions and workshops on creating games and craft-making. NLB also organised tailored library tours for schools for environmental education and outreach.
Other Partners
• Singapore Environmental Council was partnered to collect recycled bottles and activate their volunteers to conduct sessions at the library.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF) was consulted to provide a series of exhibitions and programmes to educate children the importance of protecting animals and planet.
• Local Artists – NLB worked with local artist, Bartholomew Ting to create gigantic recycled cardboard exhibits to be placed within My Tree House. This excited and enticed the children to want to learn how to use recycled materials for their daily use. In addition, a series of recycled art workshops were conducted to further interest the children.
Members of the public
• NLB also sought feedback and suggestions from the public to customise the experience for child visitors. Members of the public can provide suggestions through email or forms at the library.
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| 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
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CDL brought together like-minded corporations that leading green players in their own fields, to lend their expertise and support in this groundbreaking initiative. These partners include ADDP Architects LLP – the design consultant led by Mr Tang Kok Thye, Interface – the world's largest manufacturer of sustainable carpet tiles; and Royal Philips Electronics –the lighting consultant and supplier of energy-efficient lighting solutions and fittings for “My Tree House”.
Other building materials and components included aluminium cans, plastic bottles and some fibreglass. Low VOC (Low Volatile Compound) paints and adhesives were used on the walls. The manufactured carpet tiles to be used will be greenhouse gas-free, and contain up to 70 percent recyclable materials with no glue used. LED lighting, which is more energy-efficient, has less overhead glare, requires less maintenance and a greener product to manufacture, is used throughout the library. All these components are proudly sponsored by the like-minded corporations so that they could do their part in contributing to environmental literacy.
As for the recycled aluminium cans and plastic bottles, they were gathered from schools, libraries, food courts and shopping malls. A total of more than 5,000 of them were collected. 3,000 were used as the canopy of My Tree House while the rest are being used for the children’s activities.
The library is now home to some 45,000 books. Existing bookshelves were re-used and revamped by adding some exciting forms and features using laminate boards and laminates to form tree branches, also with recyclable content. Books were specially selected by librarians focusing on green topics.
In addition, CDL engaged multimedia designers to help design the green innovations and services such as The Knowledge Tree and Weather Stump to educate children on green facts and weather conditions of Singapore. NLB designed the eReading Kiosks so that more children can be exposed to reading eBooks and online activities.
From the programming perspective, CDL is also supporting the library in organising environmental related programmes from 2013 to 2017.
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| 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
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With the green library’s collection of 45,000 books, children have a wider variety of green themed books to borrow and read.
1) A significant 30% of these books focus on green topics such as animals, plants, nature, water resources, weather, environment, recycling and climate change. Fiction books including fairytales, fantasy and folklores which are related to the theme of the enchanted forest will make up the other 70% of the collection.
2) Young users can also read green themed eBooks and play educational games through interactive and child-friendly e-Reading kiosks. There are a total of 179 titles of these eBooks in these kiosks.
3) Special storytelling on environment and customised library tours are conducted monthly. This is to bring out the environmental theme of the library. As of December 2013, a total of 12 programmes and exhibitions had been held in My Tree House. More than 500 children had benefitted from these activities.
4) An Eco Camp was also conducted for 80 children who pledged to be Earth Heroes from young and helped to protect the environment. Children who attend pledged to :
• Use less paper, switch off the lights when not in use and use fan instead of aircon --- Melia Tong, New Town Primary School, 9 years old
• Save the Trees because it gives us oxygen. To save trees, please recycle. --- Tanvi, Ahmad Ibrahim Primary School, 8 years old
• When I leave the house, I will switch off all the lights. --- Enrique Tsen, Elias Park Primary School, 9 years old.
5) Some additional feedback received are highlighted below:
• I want more camps --- Liang Sze Ki, Geylang Methodist Primary School, 8 years old
• I wish the camp is for 10 days. ---- Muhammad Aqil Khan, Monfort Junior School, 8 years old
• The camp was very fun and meaningful! I learnt a lot. But I think it should be a bit longer. --- Ada Teng, Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School, 8 years old
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| 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
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Annual Work Plan
• As part of the Central Public Library, programes and activities are closely monitored by the library manager and Public Library management via the annual work plan. At the beginning of the year, plans for “My Tree House” will be drawn up and targets for the year ahead are set. These targets are then tracked and monitored monthly and updates are provided at the middle and the end of the year.
• As funds are sponsored by CDL annually for environmental related programmes to be conducted in the libraries, NLB provids a proposal at the start of each year for CDL to endorse on the programmes and plans.
• At the end of the Financial year, NLB will provide an update of the activities and programmes done to CDL so that they are aware of the progress of the project. This serves as a check and balances on the sustainability of the project and ensures the direction of the project is being met. In addition the team also updates the management every quarterly on the upcoming new projects and programmes for My Tree House.
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| 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
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Among the key challenges faced included getting real-time weather information for display on the tree stump; and how to reach out to programme partners.
NLB and CDL sought help from the National Climate Change Secretariat and various agencies stepped forward to assist. The National Environment Agency linked the project team to the Meteorological Services Singapore to provide real-time weather information. The National Parks Board shared with NLB its programmes on plant and foliages to educate children and green volunteers were recruited via the Singapore Environment Council. The partnerships with the agencies were made possible due to the concerted effort across the Government agencies in promoting environmental literacy to the nation.
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