| 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
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Collaborating with various stakeholders to leverage on their contacts to repurpose books and lending expertise to emerging and developing countries was a creative way to extend the reach of the library beyond Singapore’s shores. In early 2015, NLB and the Library Association of Singapore worked with the National Library of Myanmar and the Library Association of Myanmar on a donation of 50000 used books to the National Library of Myanmar and public libraries. In addition to our library books, NLB are heartened to receive the donation of pre-loved books from its corporate partners such as the Public Service Division, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and DBS Bank. Every single book was taken up by the 94 participating volunteer welfare and non-profit profit organisations (VWOs & Non Profit Organsiations).
In addition, NLB conducts an annual Charity Book Donation to repurpose used library books by donating them to the beneficiaries from Singapore as well as overseas countries. Close to 150 volunteer welfare organisations and their local and overseas beneficiaries received about 230,000 used books donated by NLB through its charity book donation as well as during the special book donation project.
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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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NLB working together with its partners have delivered reading programmes to the following organisations and countries
a) Books for Asia Program- worked with the Asia Foundation in the Books for Asia Program in partnership with the Sri Lanka Library Association and The National Library and Documentation Services Board, and conducted a workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka for Public Librarians. The workshop was attended by 100 Sri Lankan public librarians. (49)
b) Digital Windows Project - In the continuous effort to assist developing countries in building up their digital library capabilities, NLB conducted training workshops to promote digital content and access. These initiatives provide a basic cornerstone for our library counterparts in Southeast Asia and were funded by the grants given to NLB by the US Government.
i) Indonesia
Librarians and volunteers from the West Java Board of Library and Archives (BAPUSIPDA) in Bandung were presented with 40 Nook e-readers and given a 2-day workshop on use of the e-readers and conducting reading related activities using the e-readers.
ii) Myanmar
The 40 Nook e-readers were donated to the Myanmar Public Libraries through the Myanmar Information & Public Relations Department. NLB also donated about 3,000 used English children’s books from our library collections to Myanmar public libraries through the Myanmar Book Foundation.
iii) The Philippines
40 Nook e-readers were donated to the National Library of Philippines and training workshops were conducted from 19-22 May 2014 on use of the e-readers, library management, and engaging youths using social media and reading programmes.
c) Enhancing English Language Competency Programmes at Jaffna Public Library
Training workshop were conducted for Jaffna Public Library librarians. 10,000 English language books for children from NLB’s used library collections were also donated to JPL
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| 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
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The strategy implemented was to partner with foundations and VWOs to identify the beneficiaries and lend NLB’s expertise and donation of books to try and work with them to enhance the quality of the beneficiaries’ lives, funding was provided by the stakeholders NLB worked with.
• 2009- NLB had sent staff as SIF volunteers to help set up the Children’s Section of Jaffna Public Library in 2009. Work done included remodelling the Children’s Section, training of library staff in children programmes, conducting Raise a Reader workshops for parents, and donation of used NLB books to the library.
• 2013 - Books for Asia Program in partnership with the Sri Lanka Library Association and The National Library and Documentation Services Board, and conducted a workshop in Colombo, Sri Lanka for Public Librarians on 24th and 25th of October 2013 in Colombo. Aug 2013 by Ministry of Foreign Affairs /Singapore International Foundation to be their partner on a project to enhance the employability of youth in Jaffna by improving their level of English competency.
• 2014- Librarians and volunteers from the West Java Board of Library and Archives (BAPUSIPDA) in Bandung were presented with 40 Nook e-readers and given a 2-day workshop on use of the e-readers and conducting reading related activities using the e-readers in May 2014. Myanmar Book Foundation, in collaboration with Myanmar Information Public Relations Department and Beyond Access held a ASEAN Library Development Forum, in February 2014 in Myanmar. NLB’s staff was invited to present two workshops at the forum together with the donation of the e-readers. The 40 Nook e-readers were donated to the Myanmar Public Libraries, through IPRD. NLB also donated about 3,000 used English children’s books from our library collections to Myanmar public libraries through the Myanmar Book Foundation. NLB presented the e-readers to The Library Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Hanoi, and conducted workshops from 1-4 July 2014 on the use of the e-readers, library management and storytelling. NLB conducted five workshops from August 2013- May 2014 for staff and volunteers in the West Java Board of Library and Archives (BAPUSIPDA), including an attachment at public libraries in Singapore in March 2014.
• 2015 - Four workshops for were conducted for staff of General Science Library (GSL) in Ho Chi Minh City from 2015-2016, with a study visit to Singapore in December 2015.
• 2017- GSL network consist of GSL in Ho Chi Minh City and 24 libraries in South Vietnam to tap on NLB’s expertise for specialised IT training for their staff and conduct reference skills workshop.
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| 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
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The stakeholders involved included both NLB staff, the Foundations that we collaborated with e.g. Singapore International Foundation (SIF) as well as the beneficiaries such as the overseas librarians and their users. An MOU was signed with the SIF to collaborate in bringing the expertise of NLB to enhance the SIF volunteer driven overseas community development projects as well as to build the local capacity to promote reading and learning in overseas communities and to uplift the lives of under privileged people living in mutually identified countries in Asia.
In the case of the Books for Asia Programme, NLB worked with the Asia Foundation in partnership with the Sri Lanka Library Association and the National Library and Documentation Services board to conduct a workshop for Sri Lankan Public Librarians in Colombo. Typically, NLB provides the expertise to train the librarians in the use and promotion of digital content and access. NLB also designs and carries out training for in areas such as Specialist Library Management or Library Science related training.
In addition, NLB also helps by as well seeking grants from foundations or agencies (e.g. e book readers donated by the US Embassy) and helps support ad hoc initiatives such as book donation programmes.
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| 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
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Outreach to the region: SDG 4 – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
a. Levelling up professional library competencies
i. The management team of BAPUSIPDA was very happy with the outcome of the workshops. They shared that the staff who participated in the workshops have shown marked improvement in their work performance. The staff have also shown greater commitment and passion in carrying out their duties. They are more forthcoming with suggestions and ideas on new programmes that can be offered to their library users based on what they learned during the workshops.
ii. The series of workshops were beneficial to all, with parties gaining from the interaction and exchange of ideas and new friendships formed.
iii. Training the librarians techniques on how to bridge age gaps between the libraries and younger customers
iv. Improving the software knowledge as well as search and information acquisition techniques
v. Video/ sound/ photo editing software skills introduced and broadened into learning modules aimed at enhancing the librarians soft, hard and technical skills to better promote and market libraries
vi. Enhanced English language skills to broaden global reach and enhance communication.
b. Repurposing used library materials
i. After a meaningful lifespan spreading learning to the people of Singapore, used library materials are being repurposed to be donated to the needy from other countries in the region. In particular, 10000 English language books for children from NLB’s used library collection were donated to Jaffna Public Library
ii. Over a period of 2 years 14-16 over 60 000 books were donated to NGOs/VWOs/NPOs who channelled them to countries such as Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Palestine, Vietnam.
c. Cultivating a habit of reading amongst the young in Sri Lanka by training Sri Lankan Public Librarians (Collaboration with Asia Foundation in the Books for Asia Programme)
i. Developing and implementing services and initiatives to develop reading skills and bilingualism in children.
ii. Promoting reading habits across the various target audience
iii. Honing storytelling techniques
iv. Cultivating customer service and instilling a culture of service excellence.
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| 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
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Some challenges occurred in training the Jaffna Public Librarians (JPL) and helping them to improve their content knowledge about the donated youth collection. A key issue was that most of the JPL librarians are middle aged, there was a vast generational and cultural gap between them and the teenagers of Jaffna Town. Those gaps have been bridged through a conscious effort to feed information about the music and film markets and how they correlate and collaborate with the global publishing industry. The JPL librarians’ knowledge about pop culture, that dominates the influence of teenagers through music, films and graphic novels have been updated and thoroughly enhanced.
In addition, more creative ways of promoting content had to be introduced, and thus, video and sound editing software together with photo editing and poster design skills have been introduced to librarians these skills helped them to keep libraries relevant and create awareness for reading in a society that is lacking in communicative transportation limitations.
Other challenges include fine tuning the training curriculum to suit the diverse needs of the participants from the different countries, as well as language barriers. To overcome language barriers, NLB trainers had to rely on the use of interpreters, as well as to tailor the learning and content to the pace of the participants. There were also cultural differences to consider when training e.g. cannot rush things, the NLB team needed to cater for their timings.
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