SpotlightOnSingapore

One powerful reason why National Library Board doesn’t deserve the Singapore Quality Award (SQA)

Last evening I was surprised to see not one but two security officers in Yishun Library. This is a good response to public feedback.

Observing them, I couldn’t help but come to the conclusion that they are fighting a losing battle. Kids still run about in the library right under their noses, and library users talk loudly as though they’re strolling in a bookstore.

Over the years letters in the Straits Times Forum complained about noisy libraries. The National Library Board (NLB) trotted out the customary response: users must be more responsible.

Result? Noisy public libraries have become the norm because of NLB’s tolerance. Even its flagship library in Victoria Street, where NLB is headquartered, is plagued with noise. Regular announcements appealing for co-operation speak volumes.

Admittedly, NLB has chalked up many outstanding achievements but in my view if it can’t maintain silence in its libraries then it doesn’t deserve the SQA.

2 Responses to “One powerful reason why National Library Board doesn’t deserve the Singapore Quality Award (SQA)”

  1. Not sure how they will tackle the problem. It is hard to shut the kid up without parental intervention. Sometimes the parents are nowhere to be found.

    Icemoon  -  November 13, 2009 at 10:33 pm

    • Sure an uphill task for NLB but if it has the will the problem is not insurmountable. Iv’e given suggestions in an ealier post, and at the risk of sounding a bore, I’d repeat them in due course.

      rogerpoh  -  November 14, 2009 at 7:12 pm


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