Image is retrieved from:

http://taralazar.wordpress.com/2009/04/26/marsha-riti/

According to C. Chew’s article, ‘Public Housing in Singapore’ from Infopedia:
“In the past, the size and layout of flats were guided by standard design plans, with some degree of variation. Hence, most of them tend to be rectangular in design, in order to achieve the outcome of high-density, high-rise developments.

However, over the years, the standard design plans for new flats have been updated to cater to the changing expectations and preferences of buyers. For example, executive flats were launched in the 1980s in response to the desire for bigger flats. These changes reflect the broader shift in the focus of public housing programmes from quantity to quality.

Whereas the emphasis of the early building programmes was on meeting the population’s basic need for proper shelter, there is now an emphasis on quality that extends beyond the design of the flats to the surrounding living environment, as evidenced by efforts to improve the landscape architecture and enhance the visual identity of housing estates and to provide better amenities for the residents. Hence, the flats in Singapore are now likely to come in more designs and shapes.”

Reference:
Chew, C. (2009). Public Housing in Singapore. Retrieved May 18, 2010, from Infopedia, http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1585_2009-10-26.html

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

All Rights Reserved, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, c2009

What’s inside?: fascinating structures around the world by Laroche, Giles
Publisher: Boston : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, c2009
Call No.: J 720 LAR
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Raintree, 2010

Architecture by Bingham, Jane
Publisher: London : Raintree, 2010
Call No.: J 720 BIN
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Gareth Stevens Pub., 2010

Architect by Cohn, Jessica
Publisher: Pleasantville, NY : Gareth Stevens Pub., 2010
Call No: J 720 COH
Click here to check for item availability

All Rights Reserved, Charlesbridge, c1998

13 buildings children should know by Munich : Prestel
Publisher: Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge, c1998
Call No.: J 720 ROE
Click here to check for item availability

Here are websites for information on the topic:
Title: Architecture for kids: Lessons and activities
URL: http://www.kinderart.com/architecture/

Title: Roman architecture – History for Kids!
URL: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/
architecture/romarch.htm

All websites are last accessed on 20 May 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 Isabel Tan
Librarian, Children’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

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

ASK! about Events and Outreach

Thousands flocked to the first Book Exchange in 2009, and it’s back again this year!

Give your books a new lease of life – share them with other book lovers and get new reads in return. Give a book, and get a book.

10th April – 23 April 2010

Starting 10th April, make you way down to any Public Library to drop off your used books. While there, exchange one book for one Book Exchange Coupon.

24th April (Saturday) 8.30am – 6.00pm

Bring your coupons down to The Plaza, National Library Building to exchange for other used books.

And there’s more than just exchanging books!

On 24th April, don’t miss the exciting activities for children at the Central Public Library – listen to stories on Bob the Builder, meet Bob the Builder himself, and there will be opportunities to take a photo with him! Catch screenings of the National Geographic’s documentary “Shark Eden”.

More details in the poster and programme flyer.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,Associate Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

On 4 February 2010, MP Irene Ng along with guest-of-honour, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, launched the first of her 2-part biography on former minister, S. Rajaratnam. The first part, which is devoted to the memory of S. Rajaratnam and his enduring vision, is titled ‘The Singapore Lion’.

Sinnathamby Rajaratnam (25 February 1915 – 22 February 2006), better known as S. Rajaratnam, was Singapore’s first foreign minister. He held the post for 15 years from 1965-1980, and held the post of deputy Prime Minister from 1980-1985.

In 2007, the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) was renamed as S.Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) to honour his contributions for Singapore.

Currently, there is an exhibition on S. Rajaratnam at the National Library Building on level 10. It will run from 4 February to 4 May 2010.

Has Mr Rajaratnam written any books?

He has published a number of books. You can find the locations and availabilities of the books by following the links below:

1) S.Rajaratnam on Singapore: From Ideas To Reality

2) S. Rajaratnam: The Prophetic and The Political

3) Preserving Non-alignment

 There are more books by S. Rajaratnam. Go to searchplus.pl.sg and type in S.Rajaratnam for more results.

Where can I find out more about S.Rajaratnam?

1) S. Rajaratnam

2) The voice of a nation: S. Rajaratnam

3) Raja: From Minister To Citizen 

4) The Singapore Lion

One little trivia about Mr Rajaratnam: Did you know that he penned our national pledge in 1966 after Singapore gains her independence on 9 August 1965?

  Posted by Yen Yen Toh, 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

 
Mark I: Image courtesy of Encyclopedia Britannica

Long before the net books, desktops and laptops were introduced, the machines used to process information and data were huge and chunky.

How did this essential tool that is part of our everyday life come about?

The origin of the computer can be traced to the English mathematician, Charles Babbage (1792-1871) who made attempts to design a mechanical calculating machine that stores, retrieves and processes data.

It was only in 1944 that the first working digital binary computer known as Mark I was built by Howard Aiken. These computers were huge and sometimes filled an entire room. That was because thousands of switches were needed to compute his binary number system.

It was also this time that the first effective computer programs was written. Grace Murray Hopper (1906-1992) created a program for Mark I Computer . She came up with the computer programming language, COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) and coined the word “bug” to refer to computer program errors. This word came about when her computer broke down and she discovered a dead moth in it

Much credit also goes to Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak who founded Apple Computer Inc, and created affordable, personal modern computers. Their personal computer Apple II, came with a keyboard and became an instant hit with the public. And in 1984, the Macintosh computer was then introduced. These personal computers were used to play games and to do simple word processing.

Resources:

BABBAGE, Charles. [serial online]. n.d.;Available from: Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Ipswich, MA. Accessed January 11, 2010.

JOBS, Steve. [serial online]. n.d.;Available from: Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Ipswich, MA. Accessed January 11, 2010

HOPPER, Grace Brewster. [serial online]. n.d.;Available from: Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Ipswich, MA. Accessed January 11, 2010.

The Wonder Workers, Available from : Boys’ Life; Aug95, Vol. 85 Issue 8.
Accessed January 11, 2010.

These encyclopedias can be found at the e-databases available at all NLB libraries

Posted By:

Ms Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

ASK about Environment 

National Environment Agency’s website here lists a friendly content of different methods to recycle, including tips such as selling through second hand stores and where to recycle your old cell batteries.

There are also recycling bins located at various neighbourhoods all over Singapore. You can find the locations of the bins here.Many times, the problem people face is deciding what can or cannot be recycled. 10 to 20% of items thrown into recycling bins are often not meant to be there, according to NEA. Some of these that should go to the trash bin are disposable cutlery or plastic packaging, for example (Recycling gets a colourful boost, TODAY, 14 April 2008).

So what goes into the recycling bin? Below is a list of items that can or cannot go into our recycling bins (Source: What rubbish, Straits Times, 15 June 2009):

Acceptable
Paper: Newspapers, envelopes, magazines, books, brochures, pamphlets, car park coupons, carton boxes, cereal boxes
Metal: Cans or containers made of metal such as soft drink cans, beer cans, milk powder tins, food cans
Plastic: Bottles or containers made of plastic such as detergent containers, milk containers, soft drink bottles, plastic bags
Glass: Jars and drink bottles
Others: Clean clothing

Unacceptable:
Paper: Cardboard or paper contaminated by food waste (for example, pizza boxes), used tissue paper, sweet wrappers
Plastic: Styrofoam, disposable plastic cups and containers, biscuit box liners
Glass: Light bulbs and window glass
Others: Ceramic mugsSeveral books on living green have also been written.

Apart from the usual how-to stuff, some are quirky narrative non-fiction (i.e. real life stories) about living green. Check out some green books below:

Mom, will this chicken give me man boobs?: my confused, guilt-ridden, and stressful struggle to raise a green family
By Robyn Harding.
Call No.: English 640 HAR

Image: All rights reserved, Vancouver: Greystone Books, 2009.
Where to find it

Extreme office crafts : creative & devious ways to waste supplies & company time
By Jimmy Knight & Tom Chalmers
Call No.: 650.10207 KNI -[BIZ]

Image: All rights reserved, New York : Lark Books, c2006.
Where to find it

The adventures of a plastic bottle : a story about recycling
By Alison Inches
Call No.: JP English INC
Where to find it
Image: All rights reserved, New York : Little Simon, c2009.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Associate Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

Even as we embark on the Speak Good English Movement, who can forget the Singlish lingo that makes Singapore stand out from the rest of her neighbours? Admittedly, even as we converse in proper English, Singlish is still the colloquial language that binds the people in the heartlands together.

How then did Singlish come about?

According to a BBC news article, “Singlish is the product of Singapore’s history as a melting pot of cultures, combining the influence of an English-speaking colonial master and a firmly multi-racial society. The result is an English-based vernacular, spiced up with terms from Hokkien, Malay, Tamil and whatever other language happens to come along.”

In an article by Ravi Veloo in 1994, sociolinguist Dr Anthea Gupta believes that “Singlish sprouted with the sudden rise of non-English speaking Chinese students enrolling in English-medium Straits Settlement schools from around the 1900s”. She says the single most influential group at the start was probably the Straits-born Chinese children. They spoke mostly Malay, with some Hokkien. That is why Singlish has a lot of Malay words such as malu, makan and sayang.

Sources:
(1999, August 30). Singapore declares war on singlish . Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/433745.stm

(9 August 1994), Singlish, by Ravi Veloo. Retrieved from Factiva E-Database

Here are more books on the subject!

1) Title: An essential guide to Singlish
Author: Illustrations by Miel ; [project editor, Samantha Hanna]
Call Number: SING English 427.95957 ESS

All Rights Reserved, Gartbooks , 2003

2) Title: The Coxford Singlish dictionary
Editors: Colin Goh, Y.Y. Woo
Call Number: SING English 427.95957 COX

All Rights Reserved, Angsana Books, 2002

3) Title: Sounds and sins of Singlish : And Other Nonsense
Author: Rex Shelley
Call Number: SING English 427.95957 SHE

All Rights Reserved, Singapore : Times Books International, 1995

Extracted By:

Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Have you ever felt that Singapore is so small that you have run out of things to do?
Try exploring Pulau Ubin with your family and friends!

Pulau Ubin is a great place for outdoor activities such as cycling, walking, fishing and camping. According to the website below, walking around in Ubin is a wonderful way to explore and soak up the beautiful views. You can also explore Ubin through cycling and there are bicycles for rent if you find it a hassle to bring your own.

Another interesting activity that you can do is stargazing. Pulau Ubin has been cited as one of the best places in Singapore for stargazing.

Source: wildsingapore.com/ubin/index.html (Last Accessed: 29/08/2009)

If you are interested to find out about the history of Pulau Ubin, you can refer to the following website: infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_219_2004-12-13.html
(Last Accessed: 29/08/2009)

You may also wish to refer to the following books on Pulau Ubin.

1. Pulau Ubin : Ours to treasure by Chua Ee Kiam
Call no: SING English 333.78095957 CHU

All Rights Reserved, Simply Green, 2000

2. A guide to Pulau Ubin [written by Lim Kim Keang ; and illustrated by Kelvin Lim ... et al.].
Call No.: RSING English 333.78095957 LIM

3. Chek Jawa guidebook / project editors, Ria Tan and Alan Yeo in association with The Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore ; photographs, Alan Yeo
Call No.: SING English 333.91716 CHE

All Rights Reserved, Simply Green, 2003

4. Chek Jawa : discovering Singapore’s biodiversity / Chua Ee Kiam
Call No.: SING English 333.91716 CHU

All Rights Reserved, Simply Green, 2002

To check the availabilities and locations, please use our online catalogue at http://catalogue.nlb.gov.sg/

Originally answered by Aslin Harminah
Associate Librarian
Children’s Services