New Library at Clementi to offer Two New Reading Services

Release Date : 23 Apr 2011

First public library in Singapore to offer the Mystery Brown Bag Service and Interactive Digital Storytelling Corner

Singapore, 23 April 2011 – Singaporeans, and in particular residents of the South West region can look forward to two new services with the opening of the Clementi Public Library (CMPL) today. In line with the “Quick Stop” pick and go concept, the Mystery Brown Bag Service which targets the lunchtime crowd, offers convenient access to pre-selected reading materials packed according to popular themes. Apart from the Mystery Brown Bag Service, children will be able to enjoy experiential learning via the Interactive Digital Storytelling Kiosks, also a first to be introduced at the public libraries.

The Clementi Public Library will be the 24th public library in Singapore. With a floor area of 1,900 square metres, the CMPL will offer a startup collection of approximately 150,000 items, including books, magazines and audio-visual materials in the four official languages. The collection will include some 83,000 volumes of fiction and non-fiction books for adults and young people, as well as 67,000 books for children. The library will also offer more than 400 local and international magazines, and a selection of local newspapers in the four official languages.

Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive, National Library Board said: “Libraries are social learning spaces that draw and unite people across all ages and cultures. In addition, the new services at the Clementi Public Library are part of our efforts to promote reading and make books and other information resources accessible to all our users.”

As a lead up to the opening of CMPL, the library has actively engaged the community through a series of activities. These include the 'Faces of Clementi' exhibition, where residents of Clementi had contributed photographs and stories on Clementi. The winning entries of the photo contest, featuring past and contemporary content of Clementi, are now showcased at the library. Apart from teaming up with the community, CMPL has also collaborated with the National Heritage Board on the 'Heritage Games Gallery', which showcases recreational games of the past such as Hopscotch and Five Stones. Through this exhibition, young people and children will also be able to learn more about the heritage of Singapore's popular recreational games.

Library users can look forward to programmes on heritage and nature as well as storytelling sessions for children. For more details on the upcoming programmes, members of the public can visit NLB's GoLibrary website at http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/.