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Korea Herald
08-07-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Almost 8 in 10 adults in Singapore read at least one book in 2024: reading survey
SINGAPORE (Straits Times/ANN) -- Reading habits in Singapore remain positive, with nine in 10 teenagers and almost eight in 10 adults reading at least one book in the past year, according to the latest National Reading Habits Study. Conducted every three years by the National Library Board (NLB), the 2024 study also found habitual reading levels have reverted to pre-pandemic norms, with 81 percent of teens and 89 percent of adults reading multiple times a week. Reading materials include books, news articles and online content, and exclude textbooks and communications such as e-mails, WhatsApp and Telegram messages. NLB said that the unprecedentedly high levels of reading seen in the 2021 NRHS were likely bolstered by lifestyle changes during the pandemic. Additionally, it was conducted primarily online due to Covid-19 restrictions, unlike the usual door-to-door interviews. The difference in survey methodology is known to significantly skew the results, making direct comparisons inaccurate. Despite the growing popularity of digital content, physical books remain the most widely read format. Among teens, 83 percent read physical books, compared with 54 percent who read e-books and 8 percent who listened to audiobooks. Similarly, 75 percent of adults read physical books, while 55 percent used e-books and 14 percent listened to audiobooks. While almost two in three library loans are physical items, NLB said there has been a shift towards digital formats among older adults. Physical bookstores were the top choice to obtain books, with 62 percent of teens and 54 percent of adults purchasing books there. Libraries followed closely, especially among 58 percent of teens, with 44 percent borrowing books from NLB. Seniors are also increasingly turning to digital platforms, with 35 percent of readers aged above 60 now using e-books. While the study showed strong agreement on the benefits of reading, such as broadening world views and improving critical thinking, reading for pleasure did not fare as well. Although 70 percent in both groups said they found reading enjoyable, only 56 percent of teens and 66 percent of adults found it relaxing. Associate professor Loh Chin Ee from the National Institute of Education said that this is not unexpected as time is an issue for Singaporeans, who are busy. She said that more can be done to encourage Singaporeans to read more regularly, especially youth. "Investment in school libraries from kindergarten, with attractive and relevant physical collections -- this helps to bring books closer to children and teens, to encourage them to find interesting books to read." She added that secondary schools can introduce the NLB app to students on their personal learning devices and give them time to read on it during school. "This is to allow them to become familiar with using it to source for and read books." The 2024 study involved a total of 4,623 residents, consisting of 3,725 adults over 20 years old and 898 teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19. NLB chief executive Ng Cher Pong said the findings are a testament to Singaporeans' enduring love for reading. "Over the past 30 years, NLB has been constantly finding ways to better meet our patrons' needs and to promote the joy of reading. This includes bringing books closer to communities through mobile libraries and boosting our digital collections when the pandemic struck," he said, adding that as NLB marks its 30th anniversary in 2025, it hopes to bring even more new reading and learning experiences to everyone. Emily Tan, 16, picked up a love for reading in secondary school. The first-year ITE student said she had to bring books to read during morning assembly and the school's reading periods, and that nurtured her love for books. "At first, I started reading comics, but the school introduced us to Percy Jackson as part of the reading programme, and now I'm hooked on Greek mythology," she said. Emily has recently discovered romance novels, and prefers buying books from stores like Popular as she finds that some library books are not well maintained, with foxing or missing pages. She is now on her fifth book of 2025, although pursuing a Higher Nitec in biochemical technology has left her with less time to read. "I have a lot of work to do, so I read mostly at night. But since I share a room with my sister, I have to switch off the lights when she sleeps," she said, adding that she continues reading in the dark, relying on whatever light filters in from outside, "and that is challenging." She said she has a list of books she plans to read, and sees herself immersing in books -- even in her old age. "Reading is more than a hobby," she said. "I read to unwind and escape from reality, so that I don't get too stressed by daily life."
AsiaOne
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
People aren't boycotting SingLit, they just don't know about it, say insiders on poor readership, Singapore News
An avid reader of fantasy and dystopian fiction, 27-year-old Megan often turns to social media platform Goodreads and TikTok sub-community BookTok for recommendations on what to read next. Both platforms have become go-to resources for book lovers to discover trending reading lists and reviews on popular titles. "I haven't come across much Singapore Literature (SingLit)," said Megan, who declined to give her full name. She told AsiaOne that the only SingLit titles she had encountered were from English class during her schooling years. Many readers have similar experiences with SingLit, and are largely unaware of the vast range of titles and genres published by the literary community in Singapore, as seen in the results of the National Library Board's (NLB) National Reading Habits Study 2024. Only three in 10 adults had read a SingLit book in the past 12 months, according to the study released on June 26 which surveyed 3,725 Singapore residents. Among the 2,575 respondents that were non-readers of SingLit, over half said that they were unaware of local authors and literary works. 25 per cent of the group also said that they were not interested in Singaporean themes, and 18 per cent said that they were unable to find SingLit books in the genres that they like reading. Lack of awareness, not lack of interest "I have friends who are otherwise big readers but have basically no awareness of what titles are being released in the local scene," said local author Lee Wen-yi. Speaking to AsiaOne, the 26-year-old recounted a time working in a SingLit-focused bookstore, where "someone came in and said they didn't even realise Singapore had authors". Though that experience was definitely "on the extreme end", it "still speaks to the wider condition", saying that the results of the NLB survey did not surprise her. "It's not like people are actively boycotting SingLit — most times they genuinely don't know what books exist to interest them, or where to find them," she said. Alex Chua, Co-founder of Book Bar, an independent bookstore that features local and Asian literature, echoed Lee's sentiments and said that he has encountered his fair share of "people who walk in not knowing there were so many Singapore authors". Chua thinks that interest in SingLit has been picking up over the years however, adding that he has noticed a constant flow of newcomers in attendance at Book Bar's events, which range from book launches to poetry readings. 'Same themes or subjects' The lack of interest in SingLit may also be attributed to the common misconception that SingLit works are "always about the same themes or subjects", said 27-year-old poet Laura Jane Lee. Laura and Wen-yi agreed that the misconception may be due to "what's being put in the school syllabus", since most readers' first impression of SingLit is through literary texts in school. While such texts "have a lot of literary value, they aren't always what will hook everyone into searching out more local writing," Wen-yi told AsiaOne. The necessity to study such texts on a deeper level may sometimes lead readers to think SingLit is "boring". Sceptics may also think that local literature is "not as good as international authors" and that "the quality of the writing is not good", said Book Bar's Chua, sharing that there are many internationally published local writers, such as Amanda Lee Koe and Low Ying Ping. Laura shared similar thoughts, adding that there is a "tendency for the average Singaporean reader to look towards anglophone centres of literary production as a metric of literary merit", suggesting the need for a shift in perspective towards SingLit. Speaking to AsiaOne, Associate Professor Angelia Poon from the English Language and Literature Department at National Institute of Education (NIE), also said that "there is actually a wide range of texts to choose from — poetry, novels, short stories, plays, non-fiction, essays." "We sometimes forget that SingLit is multilingual," she said, adding that there is a multitude of vernacular literature that has become more accessible with English translations. "Given how diverse Singapore literature is, it'll be hard for one not to find something that would be of interest." Limited marketing resources The discoverability of SingLit is also impacted by the lower marketing budgets that local publishers and bookstores have, according to those whom AsiaOne spoke to. Even in a digital age with BookTok and online book communities gaining traction, a majority of readers are still only exposed to books from Western publishers, said Wen-yi, who released her debut novel in 2023. "Just in terms of scale, it is hard for the much smaller number of SingLit titles — with much fewer marketing resources behind them — to break through the noise," she said. "It takes a much more concerted effort, or a stroke of luck and virality — like with Teo You Yenn's This Is What Inequality Means — for a SingLit title to gain the same kind of traction," she added. Internationally published books, under household names like Penguin Books or Harper Collins, understandably get more attention and "are supported by much bigger distribution and publicity networks than local indie publishers have", Wen-yi said, which unfortunately result in "a disparity in the support behind each title". Apart from traditional marketing efforts, Book Bar's Chua also said that SingLit books could be better promoted by Singaporean politicians, of whom many are known to be book lovers. "I think that we like to talk about our sports stars, but there isn't as much talk about our literary stars, like Jemimah Wei who clinched a US$500,000 (S$636,935) book deal," he told AsiaOne, adding that there are often so many new titles published each month that he struggles to find space to display them in store. Wen-yi also highlighted a visit to mainstream bookstore, Popular, during a recent trip to Malaysia where she noticed "a whole bookshelf section of local Malaysian authors". Similar displays of SingLit at mainstream bookstores locally could provide the needed boost for local works, she said. Speaking to AsiaOne, Assistant Professor Ann Ang from the English Language and Literature Department at NIE also said that there could be greater efforts by NLB and government agencies to promote SingLit. While they do a "stellar job", she believes that more could be done to bring literary works on permanent display in public places. She raised Poems on the MRT — a collaboration between the National Arts Council, SMRT and Sing Lit Station that displays excerpts of Singapore poetry throughout SMRT's train network — as a good example, though "unfortunately temporary" as it will only run till the end of October. Bringing SingLit to the public space could also take the form of "an excerpt from a book in place of a mural", or "quotes set into the facade of our cultural institutions, universities and libraries", she added. SG Culture Pass: Will it boost readership? As announced during Budget 2025, eligible Singaporeans will receive $100 in SG Culture Pass credits in September. Apart from tickets to local performances and exhibitions, credits may also be used to purchase SingLit titles, said the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). According to the Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) website, SG Culture Pass credits will also be valid to purchase festival passes and selected ticketed programmes at the festival in November. When asked if the SG Culture Pass would boost SingLit readership, Chua said that it would "definitely allow people who might have been unwilling to spend on a SingLit book to give it a chance". While optimistic that the credits would provide the much-needed push for some readers, Wen-yi also said that "it's unlikely to make that much of a difference specifically for SingLit, unless it's accompanied by big marketing pushes for the books". [[nid:713288]]
Boston Globe
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Safe at home at Rickwood Field
Bill Chapman, "Darryl Strawberry and former NLB players," 2015. Bill Chapman There are 22 photographs by Chapman, as well as two by the man Chapman considers his mentor, the great Bill Chapman, "Rickwood Field Bar-B-Que," 2008. Bill Chapman Most of Chapman's photographs in the show are portraits of long-retired Negro Leagues players, sitting in the stands at Rickwood. There are also photographs of Rickwood itself and activities going on there. What could be better than barbecue at the ballpark? The photographs are unframed and unmatted, which adds to their sense of openness and invitation. Advertisement The Negro Leaguers shown aren't famous, certainly not Josh Gibson-famous. Nor are they famous like the two former major leaguers seen: Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins, photographed by Chapman on a visit to Rickwood, or Darryl Strawberry. Chapman photographed Strawberry sitting in the stands with several Negro Leaguers. Note that visible at the bottom of the picture is a Bill Chapman, "Roosevelt Jackson," 2014. Bill Chapman That old-timers like Ernest Fann and Roosevelt Jackson and Odell Daniels aren't famous is fame's loss. As captured by Chapman's camera – 'cherished' might be a more accurate verb – their faces are as marvelous as their names. The appeal of 'The Gospel of the Negro Leagues' for anyone who cares about baseball history is obvious. More important, its appeal to anyone who cares about goodness and humanity – which, as recent events keep reminding us, isn't everyone – may be even greater. Bill Chapman, "Ernest Fann," 2018. Bill Chapman That serigraph is a portrait of Willie Mays. Now he was famous: the Say Hey Kid, as fine a ballplayer as ever put on a pair of spikes – and maybe the finest. Mays, who died last year, played for the Black Barons. Advertisement You've likely heard of the Curse of the Bambino. The real curse that hung over the Red Sox for so long wasn't Babe Ruth related. It was the curse of Jackie and the Say Hey Kid. That those two would have lit up that lyric little bandbox is the gospel truth. THE GOSPEL OF THE NEGRO LEAGUES At Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, 41 Second St, Cambridge, through Aug. 1. 617-577-1400, Mark Feeney can be reached at
CNA
17-06-2025
- CNA
Jail for man who forged signatures in letters on fire safety over NLB renovation works
SINGAPORE: An employee of a project consultant who wanted to "finish the job quicker" used the signature of a professional engineer on documents concerning fire safety requirements without the engineer's permission. The forged documents that Ma Lai Fatt, 56, submitted were for works at the basement of the National Library Board (NLB) in Bugis. Ma was sentenced to three months' jail on Tuesday (Jun 17) after he pleaded guilty to two out of three counts of forgery, with the last taken into consideration for his sentencing. The NLB renovated its building to convert existing space to office use in basement two. The works in 2022 involved the installation of a mobile pod, an enclosed booth for staff use, and wall partitions in another area. For the works, NLB engaged P&A Link, an interior design company which was also a renovation contractor. P&A then engaged Marchitects as a project consultant for the renovation works. Ma was an employee of Marchitects. Ma was responsible for liaising with principal engineers, who were qualified to give certification for compliance with fire safety regulations. The regulations concerned the installation of sprinklers that covered the mobile pod, and a public announcement system in the area with the new wall partitions. For the mobile pod, P&A felt that it would not be necessary to install sprinklers within the pod, as the existing sprinklers on the ceiling above would cover the pod in the event of a fire. P&A could apply for a waiver for the requirement to install sprinklers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), but it needed the endorsement of a principal engineer. P&A then asked Marchitects to obtain endorsement from a principal engineer. Around Oct 30, 2021, Ma created a letter and affixed the signature of a principal engineer, Mr Chen Kum Seng, on it without Mr Chen's authorisation. Ma had extracted Mr Chen's signature from previous documents out of his own convenience, and from a desire to "finish the job quicker", the prosecution said. Unaware of the forgery, P&A submitted the letter to NLB on Nov 1, 2021. Similarly for the wall partitions, P&A felt that no modification of the existing public announcement system was needed. P&A was required to submit an undertaking by a principal engineer to SCDF to show that the system would not be impacted by the installation of the new wall partitions. P&A approached Marchitects to obtain an undertaking from a principal engineer. Around Mar 4, 2022, Ma created an undertaking letter to state that the addition of the partitions within the space did not affect the sound volume of the public announcement system. He again attached Mr Chen's electronic signature on the letter without his permission. This letter was submitted to NLB on Apr 14, 2022. A sound test on Jul 13, 2022 showed that certain areas within the new partitioned space failed to meet the minimum volume requirements required by the SCDF. In late June 2022, while reviewing two electronic letters from P&A, an NLB officer noticed that the mobile number stated on two documents did not belong to the companies involved, or to Mr Chen. The officer also found that Mr Chen's signatures could be moved around, and the content of the letters could be modified. NLB sought Mr Chen's verification and the principal engineer confirmed he did not issue the letters. NLB then lodged a police report. While there was no monetary loss arising from Ma's offences, NLB had to delay its opening to remedy the effects of Ma's actions. The prosecution asked for Ma to be jailed for at least three months. Deputy Public Prosecutor Wong Shiau Yin said a jail term was warranted due to the seriousness of the mischief, which occurred on multiple occasions. Ms Wong highlighted that the forgery concerned public safety issues. "Had the forgery not been detected and remedied in time, the existing public announcement system would pose a real risk to NLB staff in the event of a fire as it would not have been loud enough to inform NLB staff about potential emergencies," Ms Wong said. A defence lawyer from Exodus Law Corporation reiterated that Ma had not gained financially, nor caused any monetary loss.
CNA
26-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Recycle or give away? How some libraries deal with unwanted books
SINGAPORE: As part of managing libraries, there is a system to review the books to ensure they remain relevant and in good condition. Unwanted books may be redistributed or recycled depending on several factors, according to Singapore's National Library Board (NLB). The issue of recycling books became a talking point recently after hundreds of books from the Yale-NUS College library were sent to a recycling plant before they were offered to students, sparking an uproar among students and alumni. The college, which is scheduled to close this year, apologised for an "operational lapse" in dealing with the books, saying it was unaware of students' interest in having the books. Two professors told CNA that they were not informed of any opportunity to claim the 9,000 excess books – duplicates or titles with low usage rates – that had been earmarked for disposal. NLB, which manages 28 libraries across Singapore, said it regularly reviews its collections, with various ways of dealing with unwanted books. "Generally, books that have faced wear and tear over the years, such as those with missing pages or have been extensively damaged, will be removed for recycling," NLB said in response to CNA's queries. "Books that are due to be removed such as older titles or those that can be replaced with newer editions, but may still be in relatively good condition, are redistributed to our patrons and community partners." Nanyang Technological University (NTU) similarly told CNA that outdated or older editions of books, as well as those that are damaged beyond repair, are sent for recycling. "Books of low usage are moved to storage but remain available to users upon request," said NTU. The university also noted the rise of digital learning as part of its review of its collection. "In line with evolving digital learning needs, NTU acquires electronic books by default for its libraries. This has helped the university manage the size of its libraries' print collection," it added. Such practices are in line with guidelines set out by the American Library Association (ALA), a non-profit organisation that promotes the development and improvement of libraries. The process of removing books from a collection is known as "weeding" and is critical to every library, it noted. "Weeding and collection maintenance are based on the availability of newer, updated resources or the circulation statistics and use of materials," ALA stated on its website. Books that are withdrawn can be donated to community partners for book sales, it added. If they are not sold, they can be disposed of at the discretion of the community partners. BOOK GIVEAWAYS NLB said over the years, it has donated pre-loved books to 130 local community partners and international institutions. These include schools, community clubs, residents' committees, ageing centres and reading corners at some organisations. It also organises an annual Big Book Giveaway event, where the public can take home pre-loved books for free. "We will have our 10th edition later this year, and about 60,000 books are expected to be given away then," NLB said. In the case of the Yale-NUS books, students and faculty had questioned why they were not informed of any opportunities to claim the books. "The issue here, for me, isn't that I didn't get a chance to pick up some free books as a faculty member, or that students missed out on that chance too," added Philosophy professor Andrew Bailey "It is that books are precious, and that it is a misuse of scarce resources to shred them." Associate Professor Natalie Pang, university librarian of NUS, said that while the library regularly rehomes books, the scale of the operation this time was "much larger" than in past relocation exercises, which typically involved only a few hundred titles. She added that the university will now implement a new standard operating procedure across all its libraries. The new protocol will require more comprehensive outreach to both faculty members and students before books are removed. Two book adoption fairs will be held - one from May 28 to Jun 9 and the other on Jun 14. The first is open to Yale-NUS alumni and families. The second will be open to members of the public. For any remaining titles that are still not rehomed after these events, NUS will partner with secondhand platforms such as Thryft to find new homes for the books.
