KNOWLEDGE I IMAGINATION | POSSIBILITY ANNUAL REPORT 2004 / 2005 Realise POSSIBILITY Topiary The art of topiary epitomises the concept of realising possibility. With imagination and skill, it transforms an ordinary, shapeless hedge or plant into imaginative shapes and objects. The National Library Board continues in its mission to encourage learning and the habit of reading which is key to gaining knowledge. Through the acquisition of knowledge, one will be equipped with skills to shape ideas and thoughts into new possibilities. Dolphin A dolphin emerging from the sea is fluid, not static and symbolises the spectrum of possibility. A dolphin is also among the most intelligent mammals after human beings and appropriately depicts learning and knowledge. ANNUAL REPORT 2004/200 | NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD SINGAPORE Mission To expand the learning capacity of the nation so as to enhance national competitiveness and to promote a gracious society. Purpose To deliver a world-class library system which is convenient, accessible and useful to the people of Singapore. NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD SINGAPORE | ANNUAL REPORT 2004 / 2005 Contents 02 Corporate Mission and Purpose 04 Chairman's Message 06 Chief Executive's Message 08 Board of Directors 10 Management Committee 12 Organisation Chart 13 Highlights of the Year 19 Year in Review 36 National Library - A New Chapter 38 Statistical Summary 49 Financial Statements 81 Library Listings 85 Acknowledgements Chairman's Message 4 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE | NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD SINGAPORE | ANNUAL REPORT 2004 / 2005 There are three key groups of people whom we would like to focus on - the pre-schoolers, the teenagers who are our future adult customers, and the elderly who will form an increasing proportion of the population in the future. Ten years ago, most people probably saw the library organisations. Looking forward, we will be working more as serving a purely functional role. If you needed to do closely with community groups, such as volunteers, research or could not afford to buy books, you would reading clubs and voluntary welfare organisations, so visit the library. The Library 2000 blueprint helped to that we can reach the groups more effectively. change that perception somewhat: the library has moved from being merely a functional space to a welcoming The new National Library building will open to the social space as well. public in July 2005. Apart from being a knowledge hub for scholars, professionals, researchers and students Today, we have cafes in our libraries and libraries in Singapore and the region, the new National Library in shopping centres - essentially, our libraries have will also serve as a gathering point for people to meet, integrated with the community and are seen as inviting discuss and interact. Situated in the heart of Singapore's havens to relax, meet people and share in the company arts, culture, learning and entertainment hub, the of other book-lovers. It is a great testimony of our National Library will be a place for social groups to meet, success that many libraries in other parts of the world participate in activities or simply to immerse in the have replicated our efforts in their own countries. creative and vibrant atmosphere at its compounds. Although visitorship and loans have increased over the I wish to commend the NLB Board of Directors, years, NLB is not resting on its laurels. There are still management and staff for their support and creativity - many more Singaporeans who have not or seldom step we would not have achieved what we had if not for them. foot in the library. There are three key groups of people Special mention must go to Dr Christopher Chia, the whom we would like to focus on - the pre-schoolers, outgoing Chief Executive, for his innovative contribution the teenagers who are our future adult customers, and to NLB over the past ten years. Dr N Varaprasad, with the elderly who will form an increasing proportion of the his experience in the education industry, will bring fresh population in the future. and new perspectives to drive NLB in its next phase of growth. These are exciting times ahead. Together A primary target group, which cuts across age, is the with our partners, we will endeavour to reach out to lower-income segment, many of whom are not well all Singaporeans so that the library may leave behind a educated. We need to reach out to them, so that legacy of readers and learners. they may instil in themselves and their children the importance of education. This starts with an interest in reading, and in acquiring knowledge and skills. The library can and should play that role in inculcating the love for reading, especially amongst the young. The young learn from the example of their seniors - parents, teachers, and older friends. In our efforts to keep up with technology and new developments, we should not inadvertently make it an intimidating place for anyone Ms Lim Soo Hoon to visit the library. Outreach activities like reading programmes, will be a key focus for us to draw these Chairman groups, especially children, to the library. National Library Board One of the strategic thrusts of Library 2000 was to build links with the community to promote ties and garner private sector support. This will continue to be an important goal. The library is not just a government institution - it belongs to every Singaporean and the only way to get people to feel ownership of the library is for it to be an intrinsic part of the community. In the past, we have collaborated extensively with private and public 5 Chief Executive's Message 6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S MESSAGE | NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD SINGAPORE | ANNUAL REPORT 2004 / 2005 Having laid the foundation and the important building blocks for libraries in Singapore, our aim for the next decade is to expand the role of libraries in the knowledge economy, one which rewards those able to create and apply knowledge productively When the National Library Board was formed in 1995, on our libraries' facilities and services, the basic premise the objective as set out in the Library 2000 blueprint was remains - that accessibility to knowledge should be to revamp the library system in Singapore to make it affordable and convenient, and for everyone. Working more accessible, usable and attractive to Singaporeans. towards this, we will create more social spaces at our Ten years on, the report card is in: libraries in Singapore libraries for community learning and integration of all have shaken off their traditional image as old, musty levels of society. Through the promotion of a reading institutions and assumed a new hip reputation. culture in Singapore, we hope this will contribute to the Complemented by the innovative use of technology building of a gracious society. and lifestyle appendages like cafes and performance areas, the libraries of today are vibrant and fundamental At the same time, the NLB will focus on the components of our community. development of the digital library, which will enable easier access to digitised content and allow greater The NLB model has received recognition for successfully sharing of knowledge and information via digital spaces. attracting users to the libraries, both locally and internationally. We frequently facilitate tour visits The new National Library at Victoria Street will be an by delegates from foreign libraries and have been icon of learning - where all Singaporeans can go to approached by libraries that want to model themselves enjoy the vast resources and be inspired to create new after us. The winning of the Singapore Quality Award in knowledge. With a treasure trove of over 630,000 items, 2004 is testimony to our organisational excellence. and generous social spaces for people to mingle and From leadership to planning and processes, NLB has gather, it is my hope that the library will spur continuous shown that we set and maintain high standards in all learning among Singaporeans and play a part towards that we do, and add value to all areas of our workflow to generating a reading culture. deliver exemplary results. I would like to thank my predecessor, Dr Christopher Chia, Having laid the foundation and the important building for his vision and his resolution in leading the NLB blocks for libraries in Singapore, our aim for the next to where we are today. My gratitude also goes out decade is to expand the role of libraries in the knowledge to the Board of Directors and the staff of NLB for economy, one which rewards those able to create and their continued dedication and support. The road apply knowledge productively. With knowledge as the ahead is challenging but with stalwartness and passion, pivotal factor in this new economic landscape, NLB's I am confident we will succeed in creating a more role is to make knowledge assets available to all and to gracious Singapore. groom knowledge-enabled Singaporeans. The goals for our next phase of development are delineated in the new masterplan, Library 2010. They are expressed as two main approaches - Libraries for Life, which aims to inculcate the love of reading from a young age so that it might blossom into a lifetime habit of reading for discovery and mental stimulation - and Knowledge for Success, which Dr N Varaprasad strives to develop the tenet of continuous learning Chief Executive among individuals and businesses for skills upgrading, National Library Board professional and competitiveness enhancement. NLB now faces a different set of challenges. On the one hand, we must ensure that no individual or portion of society gets left behind in the race for personal and national success. Equitable access to knowledge is critical in closing the social gap. As we continue to build 7 Board of Directors 2.