List of Interviews

• 

  Anuar, Hedwig (Mrs) @ Hedwig Elizabeth

  • Recording Date : 3/11/1998
  • Accession No.: 002036
  • Reel No.: 34

  A librarian for over three decades and pioneer of the National Library, Mrs Anuar was Director of the National Library from 1960-1961 and 1965-1988, and concurrently director of the National Archives and Records Centre from 1969-1978. This reel covers how staff helped to prepare book selection policies, based on their training either in Arts, Science, Literature, and so on. Staff were sent on overseas conferences to gain exposure and build networks. Local training, Colombo Plan training and the reason the proposal for a library school in Singapore did not get approved.

• 

  Anuar, Hedwig (Mrs) @ Hedwig Elizabeth

  • Recording Date : 3/11/1998
  • Accession No.: 002036
  • Reel No.: 35

  A librarian for over three decades and pioneer of the National Library, Mrs Anuar was Director of the National Library from 1960-1961 and 1965-1988, and concurrently director of the National Archives and Records Centre from 1969-1978. Here she talks about how library staff had to have a basic grasp of public relations, for talks, answering letters to the press, and interviews. She describes her relationship with the former director Priscilla Taylor and what she learned from her.

• 

  Anuar, Hedwig (Mrs) @ Hedwig Elizabeth

  • Recording Date : 3/11/1998
  • Accession No.: 002036
  • Reel No.: 36

  A librarian for over three decades and pioneer of the National Library, Mrs Anuar was Director of the National Library from 1960-1961 and 1965-1988, and concurrently director of the National Archives and Records Centre from 1969-1978. Mrs Anuar describes her three month visitorship to libraries across the United States, efforts to raise the quality of the library service through scholarships.

• 

  Anuar, Hedwig (Mrs) @ Hedwig Elizabeth

  • Recording Date : 17/11/1998
  • Accession No.: 002036
  • Reel No.: 37

  A librarian for over three decades and pioneer of the National Library, Mrs Anuar was Director of the National Library from 1960-1961 and 1965-1988, and concurrently director of the National Archives and Records Centre from 1969-1978. How the training for school librarians began, with branch libraries reaching out to schools in the area. Librarians were also posted to ministries to help set up their libraries. Librarians had the opportunity to experience job rotation through various sections.

• 

  Anuar, Hedwig (Mrs) @ Hedwig Elizabeth

  • Recording Date : 17/11/1998
  • Accession No.: 002036
  • Reel No.: 38

  A librarian for over three decades and pioneer of the National Library, Mrs Anuar was Director of the National Library from 1960-1961 and 1965-1988, and concurrently director of the National Archives and Records Centre from 1969-1978. The start of the Congress of Southeast Librarians - CONSAL. How it was more than a "talk shop" but comprise co-operative projects like training, education, orientation of librarians with attachments and visits in member countries. The Colombo Plan also allowed librarians from countries further afield like in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and India to receive training in the National Library. Pushing to improve the status of librarians within the civil service.

• 

  Anuar, Hedwig (Mrs) @ Hedwig Elizabeth

  • Recording Date : 17/11/1998
  • Accession No.: 002036
  • Reel No.: 39

  A librarian for over three decades and pioneer of the National Library, Mrs Anuar was Director of the National Library from 1960-1961 and 1965-1988, and concurrently director of the National Archives and Records Centre from 1969-1978. How promotions in the library are awarded, how seriously the Public Service Commission took the business of career development. Using training as motivation for staff with potential, and monthly Heads of Department meetings to discuss problems related to work.

• 

  Chan Thye Seng

  • Recording Date : 3/5/2000
  • Accession No.: 002265
  • Reel No.: 6

  Mr Chan, a Colombo Plan scholar, headed the Home Reading Division of the National Library from 1971-75. He then moved on to head the Planning, Training, Research & Development Division from 1976-79. Subsequently he took charge of the Marine Parade and Toa Payoh Branch Libraries for four years and ten years respectively. Chan discusses the circumstances leading to his obtaining a Colombo Plan scholarship to study in the New Zealand Library School, recounts his experience working at the National Library of New Zealand, the courses he took, and his recollection of the lecturers.

• 

  Chan Thye Seng

  • Recording Date : 3/5/2000
  • Accession No.: 002265
  • Reel No.: 7

  Mr Chan, a Colombo Plan scholar, headed the Home Reading Division of the National Library from 1971-75. He then moved on to head the Planning, Training, Research & Development Division from 1976-79. Subsequently he took charge of the Marine Parade and Toa Payoh Branch Libraries for four years and ten years respectively. Chan describes the library science course he took in the New Zealand Library School, his job as Head of the Adult Lending Section, upon his return to Singapore, and his responsibilities which included acquiring books and public relations.

• 00:00:01

  Chan Thye Seng

  • Recording Date : 10/5/2000
  • Accession No.: 002265
  • Reel No.: 9

  Mr Chan, a Colombo Plan scholar, headed the Home Reading Division of the National Library from 1971-75. He then moved on to head the Planning, Training, Research & Development Division from 1976-79. Subsequently he took charge of the Marine Parade and Toa Payoh Branch Libraries for four years and ten years respectively. Chan describes the year he spent running the part-time branch library at the Siglap Community Center and explains the work involved in setting up the Queenstown Branch Library, and its official opening. He also speaks about the recruitment of staff for branch libraries.

• 

  Chan Thye Seng

  • Recording Date : 10/5/2000
  • Accession No.: 002265
  • Reel No.: 10

  Mr Chan, a Colombo Plan scholar, headed the Home Reading Division of the National Library from 1971-75. He then moved on to head the Planning, Training, Research & Development Division from 1976-79. Subsequently he took charge of the Marine Parade and Toa Payoh Branch Libraries for four years and ten years respectively. Chan speaks of the guidelines and considerations in planning branch libraries - convenience, security, and access. He also speaks about how the National Library trained ASEAN librarians.

• 

  Chan Thye Seng

  • Recording Date : 12/7/2000
  • Accession No.: 002265
  • Reel No.: 11

  Mr Chan, a Colombo Plan scholar, headed the Home Reading Division of the National Library from 1971-75. He then moved on to head the Planning, Training, Research & Development Division from 1976-79. Subsequently he took charge of the Marine Parade and Toa Payoh Branch Libraries for four years and ten years respectively. Chan recalls lessons learned from Hedwig Anuar, particularly in managing crises and leading by example. His involvement in international conferences and workshops.

• 

  Chan Thye Seng

  • Recording Date : 12/7/2000
  • Accession No.: 002265
  • Reel No.: 12

  Mr Chan, a Colombo Plan scholar, headed the Home Reading Division of the National Library from 1971-75. He then moved on to head the Planning, Training, Research & Development Division from 1976-79. Subsequently he took charge of the Marine Parade and Toa Payoh Branch Libraries for four years and ten years respectively. The postgraduate course he coordinated and lectured, called "Information environment and its users", and how library studies developed in Singapore.

• 

  Ng Cheng Onn

  • Recording Date : 19/5/2000
  • Accession No.: 002274
  • Reel No.: 7

  Mr Ng worked in National Library from 1960-91. He served as Assistant Director in the areas of Administration, Loan Services, Loan and Reference Services and Technical Services. The overseas trips to Ottawa, New York Public Library, and the Library of Congress which helped him to network with other libraries, and also exposed him to emerging technologies such as computerization. How much of his training came from rotations in different sections - running a branch library, supervising staff in the Reference Section, serving in committees which selected books for the branch libraries.