reaching out to all segments of society the singapore experience all rights reserved, national...

REACHING OUT TO ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY The Singapore Experience

All Rights Reserved, National Library Board Singapore

Ang Mei Jun & Krist Chan, LibrariansPublic Library Services, National Library Board Singapore


A Service Roadmap for the Disadvantaged

Objectives of roadmapTo reach out to the “under-served” communitiesTo reach out to the “under-served” communities

To plan and manage library services for these communitiesTo plan and manage library services for these communities

To promote inclusion and integration of the disadvantaged into society To promote inclusion and integration of the disadvantaged into society at largeat large

StrategiesStrategies

Prioritization in resource allocation

Development of networks with national bodies and partners

Enhancement of access to library

resources


Identifying target groups

The Economically-disadvantaged - Includes low-income families and the illiterate

Children, especially, may lack the support of a home library and/or regular access to books. Knowledge of other information resources and how to use them may also be low.

Prioritization in resource allocation

The Socially-disadvantaged - Includes institutionalized persons such as juveniles in homes and orphanages, and prisoners.

This group may experience similar lack of access to books and library services, especially with additional restrictions in movement.

People with disabilities or learning difficulties

Caregivers including teachers, therapists, parents and social workers.


Memberships – More loan privileges

• For individuals: Premium library membership

• For organizations serving the disadvantaged: The D.E.A.R.@Community (Drop Everything and Read) library membership

Building Designs

• Library facilities assessed to ensure they are wheelchair-friendly

Service Innovations – mobilizing library collections and services

• Project Deliver Me and MOLLY, the Mobile Library

Enhancement of access to library resources


Partners - crucial in the planning and execution of programmes targeted at the disadvantaged

Extensive networking with voluntary welfare organizations, government regulatory bodies for social work to reach out effectively to the target groups.

Partnerships also allowed the library to execute improvements to better serve people with disabilities, such as the CCTV (Video Magnifier), a joint effort between NLB and the Retinitis Pigmentosa Society Singapore.

Development of networks with national bodies and partners


Activities @ the Public Libraries

Programmes such as storytelling, guided library visits and workshops

• Examples

– Monthly storytelling sessions for the children of The Spastic Children's Association of Singapore

– Storytelling workshop conducted for caregivers and educators

Roving exhibitions by associations and welfare groups

To support the shared aim of public education

Launches of books written by authors with disabilities

• Venue-sponsorship and publicity support by the public libraries


Library DisplaysLibrary Displays


Activities @ the Public Libraries

National Events

• Organized in conjunction with the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities

• Objectives:

• To promote library collections and services to the disadvantaged groups

• To increase public interaction and awareness on persons with special needs

• Events held:

• The Amazing Wheelchair Challenge, 2008

• Seminar on Deaf Culture, 2009


The inaugural Amazing Wheelchair Challenge, Dec 2008 Scavenger hunt at the Libraries


The Seminar on Deaf Culture, Dec 2009 Discussions and Talks


The Seminar on Deaf Culture, Dec 2009 Book discussion in Sign Language


Service Innovations

Project Deliver Me

Molly®, the Mobile Library


Project Deliver Me

A free home delivery service

To provide patrons with maneuverability issues access to information resources

Coordinated by public librarians and supported by volunteers

Conceptualization: 2007

Prototype phase: 2008

Official launch: 2009


Conceptualization & Implementation

Objectives

To provide the physically and/or visually challenged home access to library materials

To promote spirit of volunteerism

To increase awareness on people with special needs

To further integrate them with society at large



Partners

Associations for the handicappedSociety for the Physically Handicapped

Muscular Dystrophy Association

Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped

Asia Women’s Welfare Association

VolunteersTransport company

Associations for the handicapped

Education institutions


Volunteers – The Heart of the Service

263 volunteers serving 115 people

Taxi drivers who give volunteers free rides or make personal deliveries

“I love reading, so when I first heard that I will be helping to deliver books to the doorsteps of the underprivileged, I was more than happy to help. Having the books delivered to the beneficiaries will definitely encourage them to read. I don’t mind sacrificing my time off the roads if I can spread the love of reading.”



Service Recipients

Prototype phase:

Selected through partner associations

Project roll-out:

Eligible participants from public can also apply

Profile - Ages:

0 to 12 yrs old – 9%

13 to 19 yrs – 13%

20 to 59 yrs old – 67%

> 60% – 11%


Service Workflow

Interviews conducted to determine information needs and

reading interests

Selection of materials

Delivery (6 deliveries each year)

and collection

Updating of Reading Preferences



Mobile library services in the 1960s in Singapore

Library on wheels launched on 1 Apr 2008

Addition to the network of 22 reference and public libraries in Singapore


Objectives

To bring to the disadvantaged an opportunity to discover the joys of reading

To increase the awareness on library collections, services and programmes

To encourage and entice these users to become active users of public libraries as part of their lifelong learning journey.



Features

Same basic technical set-up as public libraries:

Book borrowing & returning stations

Library e-Kiosk

Customer Service Counter

RFID gates

Wireless-enabled with 3.5G broadband

25,000-book collection

(3,000 on board)



Primary target clients

Students in special education schools

Children, youths and adults in welfare homes

Members of associations for persons with disabilities



Other Partners

Kindergartens

Primary and Secondary Schools


Community Centres

Shopping Malls, parks and places of interest


Programmes & Services

Reading-aloud, storytelling and performances

Workshops and user-education sessions



Response to MOLLY – an overview

Measurable Figures (Apr 2008 – Jun 2010)

No. of visitors: 124, 619

No. of books borrowed: 200, 753

No. of new library members: 9,147

No. of visited sites: 841 visits to 250 sites

Testimonials & Comments

“The children enjoyed the storytelling and the novel experience of borrowing books in the Library bus. On behalf of Sunbeam Place, thank you very much again for NLB’s services extended to our Home. I sincerely hope that children are more encourage in reading because of the convenience and exposure.” – Dr. Siew, Children’s Society

“The partnership between the Home and MOLLY has benefited both the clients in the Home as well as the staff of the Home.Your team's effort in enriching the lives of the physically and intellectually disabled adults has been very encouraging despite facing the literacy barriers.”

- Steven Tan, Administrator, Blue Cross Thong Kheng Home (for disabled adults)


Motivators for Using Molly

Provides fun and excitement

A training platform

Reinforcement of important values

Exposure and ‘normalization’

Response to MOLLY – an overview

Convenience and equal access to library materials

Supplement for limited or lack of school libraries

Extension of the classroom and a bonding space


Adventures of Molly: A series of picture books

A Creative Effort

Stories about MOLLY® and her adventures written with ideas of 60 children from 5 SPED schools through facilitation sessions conducted by librarians.

Adventures of MOLLY®

The Proud Racer


A Creative Effort

Ideas for the sights, sounds and smells of a setting, type of characters, possible scenarios and endings.

If you have a library that moves, what will it be?

– “Tuk-tuk”

– “Submarine with windows. Read with fish!”

– “Bulldozer with books in front”

– “Pathlight (school) on wheels. The whole school is a library.”

– “Bullet train from Japan with lots and lots of books. Very fast but when there are people reading, it will slow down.”


Contact us:

Ang Mei Jun

[email protected]

Krist Chan

[email protected]

reaching out to all segments of society the singapore experience all rights reserved, national...

Documents

library resources

library collections

premium library membership

guided library visits

national bodies

partners enhancement

public libraries programmes

services project