There is a difference between the two – the Netherlands, short for the Kingdom of the Netherlands refers to the country, while Holland – actually, North and South Holland – are two provinces out of the 12 provinces that make up the country.

However, the two names are commonly used interchangeably and this could be due to historical reasons. Holland used to be just one province during the days of the United Provinces (1581-1795), where a few provinces in the region came together to form the precursor to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and most of the nation’s governmental and commercial power was concentrated there. Hence foreigners came to think of the Netherlands and Holland as one and the same.

Though the right term for the country would be the Netherlands, matters are not helped by the country’s national tourism board also using the term Holland to refer to the entire country and in its tourism website address. Some encyclopaedias and books also refer to ‘Holland’ as another name for the Netherlands, further contributing to the common use of both terms to refer to the country.

Sources:

Name: Factiva.com
Source: The Arizona Republic
Title: Holland not the same as Netherlands
Author: Clay Thompson
Publisher: The Arizona Republic
Issue Information: 1 March 2007
Description: What is the difference between Holland and the Netherlands?
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Name: Factiva.com
Source: The Daily Express
Title: Your questions answered
Publisher: Express Newspapers
Issue Information: 4 November 2006
Description: Is there any difference between Holland and The Netherlands, or are they different terms for the same country?
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Name: Factiva.com
Source: Boston Herald
Title: Good question; It’s time to brush up on geography by going Dutch
Author: Beth Teitell and Roger Michel
Issue Information: 1 November 1998
Description: “Q: There are questions you just can’t ask after the third grade, and I’ve been carrying one around for 30 years – are Holland and the Netherlands different countries? And who exactly are the Dutch? Please help me with my secret shame!”
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

You may also wish to refer to the following sources for more information on the Netherlands and her history.

Web Resources

Source: http://www.holland.com/global/aboutholland/history/
Title: History – History – The Official Website of The Netherlands Board …
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Source: http://www.minbuza.nl/en/You_and_the_Netherlands/
About_the_Netherlands/Highlights_of_Dutch_History
Title: Highlights of Dutch History – MinBuza.nl
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

Source: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/
travel-advice-by-country/country-profile/
europe/netherlands/
Title: Country Profile: Netherlands
Last accessed date: 14 Jul 2010

 Answered by Ms Lynn Koh, Associate Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Students performing at the 1966 National Day Parade
Source: www.nhb.gov.sg

National Day Parade, 9 August 1967
Source: www.nationalartgallery.sg

August marks a very special month in Singapore’s history as Singapore holds its national day celebrations on 9 August every year.

9 August is a significant date because on 9 August 1965, Singapore broke away from Malaysia and became a fully independent country. Prior to this, on 27 May 1961, the Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed merger between Singapore, Malaya and other British colonies like Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia for political and economic reasons.

However, due to political differences that later led to 2 racial riots in Singapore in 1964, as well as economic incompatability, on 7 August 1965, the leaders of Malaysia and Singapore signed the separation agreement and on 9 August 1965, Singapore became a fully independent country.

This year, Singapore will celebrate its 45th year of independence and the National Day celebrations and parade will be held at the Padang where the first National Day Parade (NDP) was held. The theme this year is ‘Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag’ as the organizers hope that Singaporeans will “reflect upon the nation’s achievements and be inspired to work towards their own dreams”.

Do catch the parade and the celebrations in action if you have a chance!

For more information on this year’s NDP celebrations, do log on to the NDP official website :
http://www.ndp.org.sg

Sources:
1) The Living Past
2) NDP 2010 Official Website: www.ndp.org.sg

Posted By:

Ms Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

The colour of your nails may indicate the state of your health.  Below is a guide and does not necessarily mean it reflects actual health conditions.  It is best to seek professional medical advise if you suspect your health is affected by the colour of your nails. 

- If some or all of the nail is white in colour, it could be a sign of fungal growth or liver problems.

-  White dots may indicate a zinc deficiency, or a slight injury to the nail.

-  Brown nails may indicate fungal growth or kidney disease.

-  Yellow nails could be due to jaundice.

-  Blue nails can indicate poor circulation, or a heart, or lung conditions.

-  Pitted nails may suggest a skin condition, such as psoriasis or ezcema.

-  Nails that break or spilt easily could indicate a thyroid problem. 

-  Nails that have a yellowish tint and pink colouring at the base may be linked to diabetes.

-  Curved nails may indicate a respiratory disorder.

(Taken from “Why is yawning contagious?: everything you ever wanted to know about the human body – and some things you’d rather not” by Francesca Gould, p.27).

Below are suggested titles on the human body and its functions which are available in the libraries.  To check their availability, please visit our online catalogue:  http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/

    (All Rights Reserved, Portrait, 2007)

1.  Why is yawning contagious?: everything you ever wanted to know about the human body – and some things you’d rather not

By Francesca Gould

Publisher: London : Portrait, 2007

Call No.: 612 GOU -[HEA]

       (All Rights Reserved, Dorling Kindersly, c2009)

2. The concise human body book
By Steve Parker
Publisher: London : Dorling Kindersley, c2009
Call No.: 612.00222 PAR -[HEA]

      (All Rights Reserved, Intelligent Body Press, c2006)

3. The busy person’s guide to easier movement : 50 ways to achieve a healthy, happy, pain-free and intelligent body
By Frank Wildman
Publisher: Berkeley, Calif. : Intelligent Body Press, c2006
Call No.: 613.71 WIL -[HEA]

  
Posted by Kweh Soon Huat, Librarian,  Adult and Young People’s Services

Source: How To Make A Terrarium: http://www.katyelliott.com

Source: Paperus, The Bottle Garden Specialists: http://www.paperus.com.sg

A terrarium is a minature garden of small plants that is grown in a closed or partially open container. It has made a comeback as a fuss free gardening project for urban dwellers since its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s and you can buy a ready made one or purchase a starter kit at the Singapore Garden Festival! It is a convenient solution for busy office workers and people who do not have green thumbs as a terrarium is a self sufficient ecosystem that requires little care. All you need to do is to water it every few weeks depending on the size of the terrarium. Not only will making a terrarium spruce up your living space with little effort, it will also help to recycle your unused transparent jars and containers!

How do you create a terrarium? All you need is to place stones, or gravel, charcoal ( to provide drainage for the plants), small plants in a transparent bottle and voila! You’ve got your own minature garden in a bottle or container!

For more information on the steps needed to create your own terrarium, do check out these useful sites!
1) The Garden Management System Gardening Software: Terrariums

http://www.hmk.on.ca/terrarium.html

2) National Geographic Kids: Grow Your Own Minature Garden

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/

3) Paperus: The Bottle Garden Specialist: What is a Paperus Bottle Garden?http://www.paperus.com.sg
4) Katy Elliott: Home, Art And Food: How To Make A Terrarium

http://www.katyelliott.com/

Also, do check out the books that are available in the library for creating your own terrarium!

All Rights Reserved, Hockessin, Del. : Mitchell Lane Publishers
A Kid’s Guide To Making A Terrarium by Stephanie Bearce
Call Number: J English 635 BEA
Publisher: Hockessin, Del. : Mitchell Lane Publishers, c2010
View item availability here

All Rights Reserved, North Adams, Mass. : Storey Publishers
Tabletop gardens : 40 stylish plantscapes for counters and shelves, desktops and windowsills by Rosemary McCreary
Call Number: English 635.965 MAC -[HOM]
Publisher: North Adams, Mass. : Storey Pub., c2006
View item availability here

Posted By:

Ms Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Quoting from the National Marine Sanctuaries (U.S.), the functions and purposes of marine sanctuaries is as follows:

“The primary objective of a sanctuary is to protect its natural and cultural features while allowing people to use and enjoy the ocean in a sustainable way. Sanctuary waters provide a secure habitat for species close to extinction and protect historically significant shipwrecks and artifacts. Sanctuaries serve as natural classrooms and laboratories for schoolchildren and researchers alike to promote understanding and stewardship of our oceans. They often are cherished recreational spots for sport fishing and diving and support commercial industries such as tourism, fishing and kelp harvesting”.

[Source: "National Marine Sanctuaries: FAQ." 03 Aug 2006. . 19 May 2010.]

In addition, the New South Wales Marine Parks website lists the ways in which marine sanctuaries help the marine environment. They do so by:

- protecting habitats and ecosystems;
  – improving commercial and recreational fisheries by protecting juvenile habitats or adult breeding grounds;
  – providing opportunities to appreciate and enjoy the marine world;
  – protecting threatened species;
  – supporting research and education;
  – providing a buffer for the effects of climate change;
  – improving management of introduced marine pests;
  – reducing the risk of pollution by excluding oil and gas developments;
  – improving opportunities for ecotourism for local communities; and
  – conserving cultural heritage.

[Source: NSW Marine Parks. "About Marine Sanctuaries." "Marine Sanctuaries: National Parks of the Sea." 2005. , 19 May 2010.]

You can find out more about marine sanctuaries from the two source websites listed above. You can also read aggregated news reports about local efforts to start a marine sanctuary at Pulau Hantu at the following page on Wild Singapore’s website (http://www.wildsingapore.com/): , 19 May 2010.

Book Recommendations:
1) Title: Endangered oceans / Louise I. Gerdes, book editor.
Publisher: Detroit : Greenhaven Press, c2009.
Call No.: Y English 333.95616 END

2)Title: The marine heritage of Thailand : kingdom of infinite biodiversity.
Publisher: PTT Exploration and Production Public Co. : National Park, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation Dept., 2006.
Call No.: RSEA English 333.916409593 MAR

3) Title: Marine parks of Malaysia / text by Mohd Taupek Mohd Nasir, Nor Ainy Mahyidin.
Author: Mohd. Taupek Mohd. Nasir
Publisher: Kuala Lumpur : Dept. of Fisheries Malaysia, Ministry of Agriculture, 2001.
Call No.: q333.916409595 MOH

4) Title: Wild ocean : America’s parks under the sea / by Sylvia A. Earle and Wolcott Henry.
Author: Earle, Sylvia A., 1935-
Publisher: Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Society, 1999.
Call No.: q333.7830973 EAR

5) Title: Marine reserves in the Philippines : historical development, effects and influence on marine conservation policy / by Angel C. Alcala ; with a foreword by Edgardo D. Gomez.
Author: Alcala, Angel C
Call No.: RSEA 333.916 ALC

To check the availability and locations of the above titles, please use our online catalog

Originally answered by Goh Peck Keong, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Nobel Prize winning author, José Saramago, has passed away on 18 June 2010 at age 87. The Portuguese writer is known for his controversial novel, The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. After the Portuguese government barred The Gospel According to Jesus Christ for a literary contest, Saramago left Portugal and made home on the Canary Islands.

Saramago grew up in poverty. He had to work part time to support his studies. Before becoming a full time writer, Saramago has worked as a mechanic, production manager and journalist. A long time member of Portugal’s Communist Party, his works showed his unfaltering support for communism and his experimental ideas.

 His latest book titled The Elephant’s Journey is scheduled for release later this year.Here’s a listing of his books available in NLB:
1) The Notebook
Call No.: 869.842 SAR
2)Small Memories
Call No.: 869.842 SAR
3) Death With Interruptions
Call No.: SAR
4) Seeing
Call No.: SAR
5) The Cave
Call No.: SAR-[TH]
6) The Double
Call No.: SAR
7) Blindness
Call No.: SAR
8 ) The Tale of the Unknown Island
Call No.: SAR
9) Baltasar and Blindmuda
Call No.: SAR
10) The History of the Siege of Lisbon
Call No.: SAR
11) Manual of Painting and Calligraphy
Call No.: SAR
12) The Stone Raft
Call No.: SAR
13) The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis
Call No.: SAR
To check the availability and locations of the above titles, please use our online catalogue.
Originally posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Yes indeed, you have heard it right..

There’s an upcoming anniversary (50th in fact!!) of the publication “To Kill a Mockingbird”, which will happen on 11 Jul 2010. More details can be found here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/books/25mock.html?ref=books

In the local context, it appears that some schools have used Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” as text/readings for the students in their curriculums:

“All students will study Romeo and Juliet, Oedipus Rex, and Of Mice and Men. Additional readings may be taken from the following: To Kill a Mockingbird…”
Source: http://www.sas.edu.sg/hs/Catalogs/English.html

“Teacher initiated inquiry into the understandings of how societies have evolved or what factors have shaped the nature of societies through the study of your Literature texts, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and…”
Source: http://www.chijsec.edu.sg/main/history_1.html

“The course will force students to analyze one core text in depth (for now either The Crucible by Arthur Miller or To Kill a Mockinbird by Harper Lee) while training them to…”
Source: http://www.hci.sg/studies/highSch/literature/?page=blurbs

There’s also a posting done up by my colleague Reena, about this publication at Y.O. blog from NLB as well.

If you wish to borrow a copy of this “Pulitzer Prize” title (print or AV format), please check our online catalogue for its availability and holdings.

** All websites above are last accessed 18 Jun 2010 **

If you have any enquiries or comments, please drop us an email at ask@nlb.gov.sg and we will reply within 3 working days.

Posted by Mr Justin Tan
Librarian
Adult & Young People’s Services

Former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Goh Keng Swee has passed on early Friday morning (14th May 2010). He was 91.

Dr. Goh first entered the political realm in 1959  by running in the Legislative Assembly Election on the PAP ticket, and eventually became the first Finance Minister of Singapore. He eventually retired in 1984.

Apart from being the Finance Minister, Dr. Goh  also introduced National Service and streaming in school. He also had a hand in promoting tourism by calling for the need for the Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Zoo and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

In Dr. Goh’s words:

“You are a prime minister but you have no army. How are you going to defend youself?” – Goh Keng Swee to Lee Kuan Yew, who had wanted a Territorial Army, a small part-time, low cost militia

“I decided to change the system simply because the teachers did not know what they were teaching. You’re teaching people English and you’re teaching it as a first subject, as if all these people are from English-speaking homes.” – Goh Keng Swee on shaking up Singapore’s education system

“We are not the philistines that our economic and material success might lead people to believe we are. We believe that there’s more to life than making money and that the orchestra would be worthwhile as it would raise the standard of culture of Singaporeans.” – Goh Keng Swee on the government’s support for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

( Source: The Master Sculptor: Goh Keng Swee, Call No.: SING 959.570 NAI)

You can visit our Highbrowse post for more background on Dr. Goh.

 Originally posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

(What is there more of the less you see? ———————> Darkness! -[1] )

Image is retrieved from: http://prosportsonline.net/2010/02/beneath-brown-bags-saints-had-loyal-fans/

According to Odyssey’s article, Night Vision: Why you can see in the dark?:
“Eyes work by converting light energy into nerve impulses. These nerve impulses are sent to the brain, where we “make sense” of them. A certain pattern of light is a “tree,” another pattern is “my dad,” and so on.

An eye functions a lot like a camera. Light passes through the pupil — the part of the eye that appears black, but is really an opening. It is then focused by a lens, before it lands on the light-sensitive retina -a delicate membrane lining the inner eyeball and connected by the optic nerve to the brain.

Two kinds of cells share space on the retina: short, wide “cones” (7 million of them) and long, narrow “rods” (120 million of these). Each kind has its special uses.
Cones require a lot of light to work. Each one is connected to its own nerve fiber, so they help us to see fine detail. They are also sensitive to small differences in light wavelengths, which we call colors.

Rods work well even in low light. They do not sense colors or fine detail — though they are very sensitive to movement! The retinas of true nocturnal animals are packed with many more rods than ours have.

When your eyes are adapting to low light, several things happen. First, your pupil opens wide to let in as much light as possible. Then the rod cells turn off — there is not enough light for them to work at all. So at night we don’t see colors or fine detail. But we are more sensitive to tiny movements, which makes us jump even when leaves are just moving in the wind. Because there are more rods on the edges of your retina than In the middle, you often see best at night “out of the corner of your eye.” You learn to look slightly to one side of what you see.

True night vision develops slowly — it takes about 30 minutes for It to peak. Over a period of time in low light, your rod cells develop a reddish pigment called rhodopsin. This pigment increases the rods’ sensitivity enormously! But you still see differently than you do during daylight. Seeing at night is a lot like looking at a black and white TV with poor reception instead of a color set with cable.

If your dark-adapted eyes are exposed to bright light, the rhodopsin will instantly bleach white and you will lose your night vision until it has time to develop again.”

The article was retrieved from EBSCOhost Kids Search.

In order to gain access to our eResources such as the one I have shared with you above, simply visit our eResources page and register: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/index.aspx

Reference:
K-S, D., & , Initials. (2007). Night vision: why you can see in the dark?. Odyssey, 16(5), 11-11

[1] – Http://www.kidsjokes.co.uk/jokes/other/night_jokes_5.html. (1998). Retrieved from kidsjokes.co.uk: night jokes

If you want to read more on the topic, here are books that you can check out at our libraries.

All Rights Reserved,  Picture Window Books, c2005.

Look! A Book About Sight by Dana Meachen Rau

Publisher: Minneapolis, Minn. : Picture Window Books, c2005.

Call No.: J 612.8 RAU

Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, PowerKids Press, 2008.

Exploring Light by Carol Ballard

Publisher: New York : PowerKids Press, 2008.
Call No.: J 535 BAL

Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, VT : Healing Arts Press, c2004.

How to improve your child’s eyesight naturally : a thoughtful parent’s guide by Janet Goodrich.
Publisher: Rochester, VT : Healing Arts Press, c2004.
Call No: English q617.70083 GOO -[HEA]

Click here to check for item availability

All websites are last accessed on 20 Mar 2010. Please refer to the terms and conditions on the homepages for use.
For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Ms Sharifah A. Latif
Assoc. Librarian, Children’s Services

According to the book, Street Names of Singapore, “it is said that the Burmese street names, which occur in the area around Farrer Park, result from a wish expressed by an important Burmese resident of Singapore. Burma, now called Myanmar, was a part of the British Empire at the time.”

Other Burmese street names include Akyab, Ava, Bassein, Bhamo, Burmah, Martaban, Mergui, Pegu, Prome and Shan roads.

This explanation is backed up in the book, Toponymics: A study of Singapore street names, which explains that the Burmese street names, which are all in the same area, were an idea that “came from an old and respected Burmese resident who suggested it to the Municipality, which accepted the idea”.

Sources:

1. Title: Street names of Singapore

Author: Dunlop, Peter K. G.

Publisher: Singapore : Who’s Who Pub., 2000

Call No.: (R) SING English 959.57 DUN -[HIS]

2. Title: Toponymics : a study of Singapore street names .

Author: Savage, Victor R.

Publisher: Singapore : Eastern Universities Press, 2004.

Call No.: SING English 915.9570014 SAV / RSING English 915.9570014 SAV -[TRA]

 Originally answered by Ms Lynn Koh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

Found this question interesting? What do you think? Post your comments.
If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment