Singapore, 30 November 2021 – The National Library Board’s (NLB) new programme to explore multiple perspectives on key trends and issues kicks off with an inaugural discussion on fast fashion, suitably timed amid a season of shopping and gifting. The Read to Be SURE initiative’s first community-wide conversation begins on 8 December 2021, the start of a series offering access to thought leaders and a wide range of resources and perspectives.
This is part of NLB’s recently-launched LAB25 (Libraries and Archive Blueprint 2025), which aims to reimagine and transform libraries and archives in Singapore for the future. One key role is to nurture an Informed Citizenry in the midst of trends such as information overload and polarisation brought about by social media and the digital age. Read to be SURE provides a platform for the public to explore multiple perspectives on trending topics and to learn from a range of credible sources. With curated reading content packages and programmes, Read to be SURE hopes to nurture a thoughtful and discerning public in this age of distraction.
For the upcoming conversation, Fast Fashion: Love it or Hate it?, we will take a deep dive with a distinguished panel to talk about fast fashion and sustainable fashion. Information on the panel can be found in the Annex. To complement this, we have also introduced content packages in different formats, including bite-sized videos and podcasts for people to broaden their scope of reading and learning via our website https://sure.nlb.gov.sg/read-to-be-sure/intro/. The aim is to present multiple views and reliable resources to help broaden one’s mindset to make more informed decisions and to facilitate meaningful discussions so that one can gain deeper knowledge.
"In this age of information overload, many can find it confusing, distracting and overwhelming. It is also easy to be presented with misinformation, or be trapped in online echo chambers. Read to Be SURE is a key part of NLB's LAB25, where we want to help our patrons be informed of current discussion topics in society and the different perspectives on them, through a range of different formats, including interactive conversations. By tapping on these resources and activities, we hope that our patrons would become well-equipped with critical thinking skills to discern facts from opinions, credible content from fake news, and decide for themselves where they stand on these topics." said Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive Officer, NLB.
Interested individuals can register for this conversation which takes place on 8 December, 7.00 - 8.30pm on Zoom via https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/fast-fashion-love-it-or-hate-it-read-to-be-sure-tickets-202741323757.
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About National Library Board
The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 27 public libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore’s history through its rich collections on Singapore and the region.
NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995 as a statutory board, NLB is under the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).
For more information, please visit the NLB website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.