REACHING OUT TO ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY The Singapore Experience
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Ang Mei Jun & Krist Chan, LibrariansPublic Library Services, National Library Board Singapore
All Rights Reserved, National Library Board Singapore
A Service Roadmap for the Disadvantaged
Objectives of roadmapTo reach out to the “under-served” communitiesTo reach out to the “under-served” communities
To plan and manage library services for these communitiesTo plan and manage library services for these communities
To promote inclusion and integration of the disadvantaged into society To promote inclusion and integration of the disadvantaged into society at largeat large
StrategiesStrategies
Prioritization in resource allocation
Development of networks with national bodies and partners
Enhancement of access to library
resources
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Identifying target groups
The Economically-disadvantaged - Includes low-income families and the illiterate
Children, especially, may lack the support of a home library and/or regular access to books. Knowledge of other information resources and how to use them may also be low.
Prioritization in resource allocation
The Socially-disadvantaged - Includes institutionalized persons such as juveniles in homes and orphanages, and prisoners.
This group may experience similar lack of access to books and library services, especially with additional restrictions in movement.
People with disabilities or learning difficulties
Caregivers including teachers, therapists, parents and social workers.
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Memberships – More loan privileges
• For individuals: Premium library membership
• For organizations serving the disadvantaged: The D.E.A.R.@Community (Drop Everything and Read) library membership
Building Designs
• Library facilities assessed to ensure they are wheelchair-friendly
Service Innovations – mobilizing library collections and services
• Project Deliver Me and MOLLY, the Mobile Library
Enhancement of access to library resources
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Partners - crucial in the planning and execution of programmes targeted at the disadvantaged
Extensive networking with voluntary welfare organizations, government regulatory bodies for social work to reach out effectively to the target groups.
Partnerships also allowed the library to execute improvements to better serve people with disabilities, such as the CCTV (Video Magnifier), a joint effort between NLB and the Retinitis Pigmentosa Society Singapore.
Development of networks with national bodies and partners
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Activities @ the Public Libraries
Programmes such as storytelling, guided library visits and workshops
• Examples
– Monthly storytelling sessions for the children of The Spastic Children's Association of Singapore
– Storytelling workshop conducted for caregivers and educators
Roving exhibitions by associations and welfare groups
To support the shared aim of public education
Launches of books written by authors with disabilities
• Venue-sponsorship and publicity support by the public libraries
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Activities @ the Public Libraries
National Events
• Organized in conjunction with the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities
• Objectives:
• To promote library collections and services to the disadvantaged groups
• To increase public interaction and awareness on persons with special needs
• Events held:
• The Amazing Wheelchair Challenge, 2008
• Seminar on Deaf Culture, 2009
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The inaugural Amazing Wheelchair Challenge, Dec 2008 Scavenger hunt at the Libraries
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The inaugural Amazing Wheelchair Challenge, Dec 2008 Scavenger hunt at the Libraries
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The Seminar on Deaf Culture, Dec 2009 Discussions and Talks
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The Seminar on Deaf Culture, Dec 2009 Book discussion in Sign Language
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Service Innovations
Project Deliver Me
Molly®, the Mobile Library
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Project Deliver Me
A free home delivery service
To provide patrons with maneuverability issues access to information resources
Coordinated by public librarians and supported by volunteers
Conceptualization: 2007
Prototype phase: 2008
Official launch: 2009
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Conceptualization & Implementation
Objectives
To provide the physically and/or visually challenged home access to library materials
To promote spirit of volunteerism
To increase awareness on people with special needs
To further integrate them with society at large
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Conceptualization & Implementation
Partners
Associations for the handicappedSociety for the Physically Handicapped
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped
Asia Women’s Welfare Association
VolunteersTransport company
Associations for the handicapped
Education institutions
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Volunteers – The Heart of the Service
263 volunteers serving 115 people
Taxi drivers who give volunteers free rides or make personal deliveries
“I love reading, so when I first heard that I will be helping to deliver books to the doorsteps of the underprivileged, I was more than happy to help. Having the books delivered to the beneficiaries will definitely encourage them to read. I don’t mind sacrificing my time off the roads if I can spread the love of reading.”
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Conceptualization & Implementation
Service Recipients
Prototype phase:
Selected through partner associations
Project roll-out:
Eligible participants from public can also apply
Profile - Ages:
0 to 12 yrs old – 9%
13 to 19 yrs – 13%
20 to 59 yrs old – 67%
> 60% – 11%
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Service Workflow
Interviews conducted to determine information needs and
reading interests
Selection of materials
Delivery (6 deliveries each year)
and collection
Updating of Reading Preferences
Conceptualization & Implementation
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Mobile library services in the 1960s in Singapore
Library on wheels launched on 1 Apr 2008
Addition to the network of 22 reference and public libraries in Singapore
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Objectives
To bring to the disadvantaged an opportunity to discover the joys of reading
To increase the awareness on library collections, services and programmes
To encourage and entice these users to become active users of public libraries as part of their lifelong learning journey.
Conceptualization & Implementation
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Features
Same basic technical set-up as public libraries:
Book borrowing & returning stations
Library e-Kiosk
Customer Service Counter
RFID gates
Wireless-enabled with 3.5G broadband
25,000-book collection
(3,000 on board)
Conceptualization & Implementation
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Primary target clients
Students in special education schools
Children, youths and adults in welfare homes
Members of associations for persons with disabilities
Conceptualization & Implementation
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Other Partners
Kindergartens
Primary and Secondary Schools
Conceptualization & Implementation
Community Centres
Shopping Malls, parks and places of interest
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Programmes & Services
Reading-aloud, storytelling and performances
Workshops and user-education sessions
Conceptualization & Implementation
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Response to MOLLY – an overview
Measurable Figures (Apr 2008 – Jun 2010)
No. of visitors: 124, 619
No. of books borrowed: 200, 753
No. of new library members: 9,147
No. of visited sites: 841 visits to 250 sites
Testimonials & Comments
“The children enjoyed the storytelling and the novel experience of borrowing books in the Library bus. On behalf of Sunbeam Place, thank you very much again for NLB’s services extended to our Home. I sincerely hope that children are more encourage in reading because of the convenience and exposure.” – Dr. Siew, Children’s Society
“The partnership between the Home and MOLLY has benefited both the clients in the Home as well as the staff of the Home.Your team's effort in enriching the lives of the physically and intellectually disabled adults has been very encouraging despite facing the literacy barriers.”
- Steven Tan, Administrator, Blue Cross Thong Kheng Home (for disabled adults)
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Motivators for Using Molly
Provides fun and excitement
A training platform
Reinforcement of important values
Exposure and ‘normalization’
Response to MOLLY – an overview
Convenience and equal access to library materials
Supplement for limited or lack of school libraries
Extension of the classroom and a bonding space
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Adventures of Molly: A series of picture books
A Creative Effort
Stories about MOLLY® and her adventures written with ideas of 60 children from 5 SPED schools through facilitation sessions conducted by librarians.
Adventures of MOLLY®
The Proud Racer
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A Creative Effort
Ideas for the sights, sounds and smells of a setting, type of characters, possible scenarios and endings.
If you have a library that moves, what will it be?
– “Tuk-tuk”
– “Submarine with windows. Read with fish!”
– “Bulldozer with books in front”
– “Pathlight (school) on wheels. The whole school is a library.”
– “Bullet train from Japan with lots and lots of books. Very fast but when there are people reading, it will slow down.”
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Contact us:
Ang Mei Jun
Krist Chan
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