Libraries are not made, they grow

That quote from Augustine Birrel (1850-1933) greets you at the “From Books to Bytes” exhibit documenting the 200-year history of the Singapore National Library Board (NLB). Beginning with a modest single cupboard of books in the 1830s on Stamford Street, it is now a sleek and modern 10-story structure on Victoria Street, right in the vicinity of the iconic Raffles Hotel, the Bras Basah shopping complex that is a favored haunt of bargain hunters especially for used books, and several 5-star hotels. No guide, whether human or printed, is needed to visit all of the floors, and one enjoys a leisurely visit at one’s own pace—a major highlight of a recent visit to the island republic. Truly the best way to appreciate its features.

I could not help recalling that at a reading conference in Bangkok in 2011 organized by the Thailand Knowledge Park, seven of us representatives of Indonesia, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam presented our respective country’s reading promotion programs. When it was the turn of Singapore’s Kiang-Koh Lai Lin to speak, we all sighed, How can we ever match what the island republic has in terms of financial resources? Lai Lin has a reputation for promoting books, and is considered a national treasure of sorts for her literacy efforts in all of the NLB’s two dozen library branches for all age groups, especially the disadvantaged.

But walking through the impressive building convinced me that it was not all about money. The structure is not so much awesome as a comfortable and familiar refuge for young and old. Despite what may appear a formidable and cold glass-and-steel structure, its most remarkable feature is a general welcoming atmosphere.

On a Tuesday noon, the central lending library at the basement teemed with readers. There were researchers, teens, senior citizens, toddlers with their young mothers in their respective sections.  Realistic fiction titles were featured in the Teens Read section, while the literature section highlighted the Man Asia Literary Prize winners. The children’s literature section had sections for English, Tamil, Malay and Mandarin titles. I browsed using the online catalogue and checked out titles from the Philippines, including my books. Yes, the library has enough of a budget to even carry five of my titles.

Five floors were devoted to the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, which had carrels occupied by readers. There were two other ongoing exhibits—a fascinating one on “Stories Behind the Streets of Singapore” and how today’s names are clues to the country’s original inhabitants. Manila would certainly be a rich source for something similar. The exhibit on the top floor was poignant as it documented the Fall of Singapore and displayed voice recordings and artifacts of British soldiers. It was inspired by the famous “In Flanders fields where poppies grow…” war poem, and an artist had a large installation of red poppies. (This was a poem that rang familiar because it was one that our high school literature teacher, Sr. Mary Sylvester, OSB, had us memorize, which we did with little knowledge of its context in European history.)

There was yet another exhibit, a permanent one that the security guard encouraged me to view as it was the collection of state gifts presented to the head of state of Singapore.

But the library clientele’s favorite floor—mine, too—seemed to be the Garden Level on the fifth floor. A large room with glass walls overlooking the city state’s towering buildings and natural light served as a general study room for everyone who needed the space and the quiet. The room was full of readers, including students who were doing school readings or writing on their laptops, and many of them seemed settled in their seats for a long period. The amazing thing was the total quiet and respect for one another’s privacy. I could have spent my whole day in total blissful solitude there.

The Singapore NLB proved that books alone do not a library make, but also interested, devout and impassioned readers. It has gone beyond having the grand main library building as a mere showcase. No wonder Lai Lin talked about her reading programs geared for taxi drivers and another one for beauty salon workers, and the NLB’s continuing attempt to reach out to readers in their own homes and work places. Thus, two dozen (generous for the state’s land area) community library branches are in operation, even at the Esplanade, the Northpoint Shopping Centre, the Marine Parade Community Building. To ensure total convenience, one simply returns the borrowed materials in the Library Drop Box closest to one.

It’s a significant reminder for us who are bereft of adequate public libraries, but know only too well that rather than merely lament our state of deprivation, we have to explore other ways. There is no time to waste as far as the reading habit is concerned for both young and old. A memorable quote in the library premises comes from its pioneer librarian, Hedwig Anuar: “Reading anything is better than reading nothing.”

Neni Sta. Romana Cruz ([email protected]) is chair of the National Book Development Board,  a trustee of the Sa Aklat Sisikat Foundation, and a member of the Eggie Apostol Foundation.