NLB's E-resources Soar To New Heights With Singapore Airlines

Singapore, 03 November 2022 – Board a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight, sit back, and enjoy a serving of specially-curated content from the National Library Board (NLB). Passengers aboard SIA flights are now able to tuck into videos and podcasts on Singapore stories via SIA’s in-flight entertainment system. These NLB resources will also be made available on the SingaporeAir mobile app.

In this tie-up between NLB and the national carrier to promote the joy of reading and learning, NLB’s e-resources are available for the first time through SIA’s digital platforms. There will be new content added every two to three months, so everyone can expect new bites of NLB content, including many Singapore stories to watch or listen to. NLB and SIA are also exploring further collaboration in making NLB’s e-books available on the SingaporeAir mobile app, along with the videos and podcasts offered. This initiative is part of NLB’s National Reading Movement (NRM), a campaign that was launched in 2016 to encourage Singaporeans to Read More, Read Widely and Read Together.

The following is a sampling of NLB’s multi-format e-resources that are already available or will be made available on SIA’s platforms over time (more details in the Annex):

1. Videos – From Book to Cook series that brings viewers on a gastronomical journey; Stories from BiblioAsia where compelling essays and stories are brought to life; and storytelling videos for children from the StoryTime series available in Singapore’s official languages of English, Tamil, Chinese, and Malay. 
2. Podcasts – Moving Art: Film Talk series which features topics related to the performing arts, and Radio DDC which delves into the history of music in Singapore.
3. E-Books – BiblioAsia, NLB’s flagship magazine featuring stories about Singapore’s history, culture, and heritage, and the One Story series of translated short stories in Tamil, Chinese, and Malay.

NLB’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ng Cher Pong, said: “Many are taking to the skies again, and we are excited to partner SIA to offer a new channel for passengers to access some of our best resources while they travel. We hope that these resources, especially those featuring our rich Singapore Stories, will be an illuminating source of discovery and learning for all. As part of LAB25, we will work with more partners like SIA to make our rich resources available to everyone, anytime, anywhere.”

LAB25 (Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025), launched in October 2021, is NLB’s five-year plan to work with partners and the community in a journey of innovation and experimentation to reimagine libraries and archives.

Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice-President for Customer Experience, Mr Yeoh Phee Teik, said: “As part of Singapore Airlines’ ongoing efforts to elevate our customers’ travel experience, we are always on the lookout to expand our range of in-flight multimedia content. As Singapore’s national carrier, we are proud to partner with the National Library Board, tapping on their vast resources to offer a wide range of videos and podcasts, including those that are produced by Singaporeans. This is part of our goal to collaborate with a diverse range of partners, and deliver a personalised and meaningful engagement to our customers.”

Please refer to the Annex for more details on the offerings.

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About the 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 28 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 in 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, and NLB's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube channels.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Hoe I Yune Quah Jia Ling
Weber Shandwick Weber Shandwick
Tel: +65 9324 2061 Tel: +65 9699 0830
Email: ihoe@webershandwick.com Email: JQuah@webershandwick.com

ANNEX: Offerings available/will be made available