Mr Arthur Fong, MP for West Coast GRC

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning

1 I am very happy to join you here at the opening of the Jurong Regional Library. There has been great anticipation and buzz surrounding the opening of this third regional library in Singapore. It will not only be the largest regional library in Singapore but the test bed for several innovative new services. Let me congratulate all who have been involved in giving the library a new face and taking it into an exciting new phase.

READING STILL MATTERS

2 In a world that is becoming more complex, interconnected and fast-changing, the relevance of the public library has sometimes been questioned. Indeed, it has a potent rival in the Internet, which delivers information at the touch of our fingertips in the comfort of our homes. But rather than see the Internet as a rival, our libraries are harnessing its power and reach. Today all our public libraries are equipped with Internet booths and other IT-related tools that open up a whole world of information to the user, and make the search for information fuss-free.

3 I should add that not everything about the internet and the electronic medium is superior to the world of books. The habit of reading is still one of the most valuable gifts we can develop in a child, and all the more so in an age of computer games, MTV and American Idol. There is something special about reading a book from start to end, taking time to mull over the experiences, ideas and thoughts that it conveys or plays with. Reading Harry Potter immerses you in the characters and the mysteries of Hogwarts, in a quite different way from watching the film. Reading develops patient and reflective minds.

4 So just as we encourage our youth to use the internet and a variety of media to open their minds to a huge world of information, we want to make sure they do not lose the desire to read books, to have them at home cluttering up their desks, or lying dog-eared beside their pillows.

BY TEENS AND FOR TEENS

5 What is special about Jurong Regional Library is its focus on youth. The Teens Library, a unique feature of the library, is inspired by teens, created for teens and run by teens. It is remarkable how the library has involved teenagers every step of the way, from concept to implementation. Following a competition three years ago to gather ideas on what teens would like to see in a library, the NLB roped in a group of teenagers to design, create and run a space of their own. They called themselves the Young ‘Uns. They met regularly, challenged conventional notions of a library when it was still a concept on the drawing board, shared their ideas on the books and services that would appeal to their peers, and took responsibility for organising programmes for teens like themselves. The result is a vibrant space for the youth, with fun yet meaningful activities that stretch their imagination, and that gives them a sense of ownership and pride in being able to execute what they dare to dream.

6 More programmes are underway to involve youth in library activities in novel and interesting ways. For instance, NLB recently worked with a group of final-year students from Temasek Polytechnic’s School of IT to produce an online learning package to increase awareness of library services amongst teenagers. Not only did the project win top honours for its authors, it will be used by NLB librarians in their outreach and education visits to schools. It will help bring schools and public libraries closer together.

7 At the Teens Library, there are already plans for students from a number of schools (Temasek Junior College, Anglo-Chinese Junior College, Kent Ridge Secondary and Bukit Panjang Government High) to contribute book reviews and recommendations. Students from Anglo-Chinese JC will be helping to paint the graffiti wall. A series of performances, entitled ‘Expression: ShowTeens’, will be put up by teenagers to inspire others and to support budding young artistes in the community. A series of dialogue sessions moderated by teen librarians, called ‘Essential Living: Holistic Teens’, is in the pipeline. These sessions cover a spectrum of topics, from discussions on books and comics to dealing with exam stress and teenage angst.

8 I encourage more teens to be part of this experience, whether as volunteers or simply users of the library. The Teens Library is more than just a place to read; it is your space to learn, discover and test the boundaries of your imagination.

Enabling 24-hour library transactions: Self-service lobby

9 But the Jurong Regional Library is more than just a teens stopover. Another innovation resulted from direct feedback on what customers want. In 2001, the NLB carried out a survey of 1,000 Jurong residents to find out what services they wanted in this library. At the top of their wish list was an auto lobby to carry out library transactions even after library operating hours. It has happened. Visitors now have a self-service lobby built just outside this library – a first for a public library in Singapore. They can use the self-help kiosks there to register as members, pay for library transactions and carry out account enquiries, anytime of the day. Complementing these is the 24-hour book-drop service - a standard feature in all NLB libraries.

Expanding learning capacity: Collections and Programming

10 At the heart of the Library of course is not the technology but its collection of books and other resources. It is a comprehensive collection, of more than 500,000 books, audio-visual materials and magazines. There is also an in-depth reference collection from the National Reference Library at Stamford Road, which will move to the new National Library building when it is ready next year.

11 The stage is set for the Jurong Regional library to become a significant centre for research and learning, for both students and adults. It is expected to serve some 800,000 residents from the Southwest CDC district itself. It will also support the information needs of professionals and working adults from the IT and related sectors in the nearby industrial and business hubs. Its reach will be wide, and its influence I am sure extensive.

Building Bridges

12 This brings me to my last point. If collections form the heart of a library, then its activities must be its soul. I am glad that the library has planned various programmes to attract and engage the community - both regular library goers and people who rarely visit libraries, and from all walks of life - children and teenagers, mothers, working professionals and the elderly. I understand it will also run special projects of interest to the community. For instance, the library opens with an exhibition of winning entries from a photography competition entitled “Jurong: Within the Blocks”. It portrays the unique aspects of living and working in Jurong.

CONCLUSION

13 I urge the library to continue to collaborate with schools and civic groups. Our libraries can provide bridges, drawing the community closer together through meaningful activities and learning experiences.

14 Someone once said, “Knowledge is free at the library. Just bring your own container”. My advice to residents is: Bring along with you many containers when you visit the library. It is with great pleasure that I declare the Jurong Regional Library open.

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