Written Answer

Book Exchange Corner in Public Libraries

14 February 2023 · Ministry of Home Affairs

Speakers

Josephine Teo (Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs) Tan Wu Meng

Summary

This question concerns the availability of book exchange corners in public libraries and the feasibility of extending these facilities to libraries located within shopping malls. Dr Tan Wu Meng enquired about current locations and whether the National Library Board has studied expansion possibilities for branches situated in retail developments. Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo identified nine libraries with exchange corners but noted that mall-based libraries face significant space constraints and shared area limitations. To overcome these challenges, the National Library Board is expanding community reading spaces through initiatives like Nodes at Parks in various green spaces. The Ministry also works with partners to establish reading corners in Community Centres, Senior Activity Centres and Family Service Centres to promote book exchanges.

Transcript

9 Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) which public libraries currently have a book exchange corner; and (b) for libraries located within shopping malls that do not have a book exchange corner, whether the National Library Board has studied the feasibility of extending the book exchange corner to these libraries.

Mrs Josephine Teo: Book exchange corners are currently found in nine public libraries, spread out around the different parts of Singapore. They are self-managed community spaces set up within the National Library Board (NLB)'s premises, as an ancillary service to enable pre-loved books to find a new home.

These book exchange corners are in:

(a) Ang Mo Kio Public Library

(b) Bedok Public Library

(d) Geylang East Public Library

(e) Jurong Regional Library

(f) Jurong West Public Library

(g) Queenstown Public Library

(h) Toa Payoh Public Library, and

(i) Woodlands Regional Library.

For public libraries located within shopping malls, NLB has less flexibility to support book exchange corners due to space constraints and the need to share common areas with other co-located tenants.

The NLB is committed to supporting community reading spaces and will continue to look at ways to do so. For example, NLB recently rolled out Nodes at Parks, which saw book exchange corners being set up in popular green spaces across Singapore, with an ongoing one at Pasir Ris Park till the end of February 2023. NLB has also worked with partners to set up reading corners in community spaces such as selected Community Centres, Senior Activity Centres and Family Service Centres.