The Ministry of Health National Organ Transplant Unit was set up to “tailor organ procurement activities to meet the needs of the various transplant teams”. Statistics on human organ transplant in Singapore from 1997 to 2006 is also available at the MOH website.
Source: Ministry of Health , last accessed on 30/01/2009.

Acts related to human organ transplant are available at Singapore Statutes Online , last accessed on 30/01/2009.
1) Human Organ Transplant Act
Chapter 131 A
2) Medical (Therapy, Education And Research) Act
Chapter 175

For further news on this topic, you may also access Factiva for related newspaper articles:
Electronic Databases – Factiva (available through NLB’s eResources page)

Use Factiva’s research products to gain single click access to a deep archive of news and business information that provides a historical, global, and local perspective, which can help you uncover essential information on your prospects, partners or customers easily.
Available from home. With 30 days archive access.

Headline: Higher penalties: Under amended Act, offenders could be jailed 10 years, fined $100,000
Author: Judith Tan
Date: Nov 14, 2008
Source: The Straits Times

“…
There are currently about 560 Singaporeans who need a new kidney. A shortage of donors means wait times can average nine years. Last year, more than 80 patients were removed from the waiting list because they had died, or had become too old or too sick for a transplant.
…”

** Note **
The “Just ASK To Win!” promotion runs from 1 November 08 to 31 March 09. Enquiries received via the ASK! mailbox automatically qualify for the contest. For more information on the promotion, please refer to http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/ask/promo.

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 and Young People’s Services

Kids ASK! about Anything & Everything

The term “shooting star” was used by people in the past to describe a bright streak of light that suddenly appears across the sky at night, and then disappears. At very rare times, the streak of light will land somewhere on Earth, causing a loud boom.

Now, scientists call them meteors, meteoroids and meteorites. They are meteoroids when they are small chunks of matter moving in outer space. Some of these chunks will enter the Earth’s atmosphere – at this point, they are called meteors. As they enter, lower and lower into the atmosphere, they “burn” and this is what you can see. When they disappear, these meteors have vaporized into thin air. In 1 year, only about 500 meteoroids, out of many thousands, actually make it to the ground before they disappear. These are then called meteorites.

Source:
meteor and meteorite. (2008). In Britannica Student Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 13, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition: library.ebonline.com/kids/comptons/article-9275807

If you want to read more about the stars, here are books that you can check out at our library.

For Children:

Image retrieved from www.overstock.com

Learning about the movement of the sun and other stars with graphic organizers by
Isaac Nadeau
Publisher: New York : Rosen Pub. Group’s PowerKids Press, 2005
Call Number: J English 523.8 NAD

Image retrieved from www.infibeam.com

Exploring meteors by Rebecca Olien
Publisher: New York, N.Y. : PowerKids Press, 2007
Call Number: J English 523.5 OLI

Image retrieved from www.amazon.ca

JLA Superman’s guide to the universe by Jackie Gaff
Publisher: London : Dorling Kindersley, 2003
Call Number: J English 523.1 GAF

All websites are last accessed on 24 January 2009. 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.

Originally Answered by Verena Lee,
Librarian, Children’s Services

Posted by Felicia Chan,
Librarian, Children’s Services

Kids ASK! about Myths & Facts

I must confess that I have always somewhat believed that if a baby is born on a plane, he or she will get free air travel on that carrier for the rest of his/her life. The truth is, airlines do not offer free air travel for babies born on their flights. It is an urban legend that has caught on in the public’s imagination, and one people believe is the reason for airlines’ restrictions on having pregnant women on board.

The real reason why airlines are very particular about having pregnant women in their third trimester on board is more medical than anything else. Pregnancy, if complications occur, can be dangerous for the mother and baby without professional help. Pregnant women also run risks of blood clot and inflammation in the veins of their legs when sitting too long. Air humidity in planes is kept at 8 percent and therefore it is easy to be dehydrated when on a plane. Different airlines have different regulations and many require a doctor’s letter if traveling within 30 days of due date of birth.

You can read here for information of restrictions some airlines have and here on risks of travel when pregnant.

That said, there have been 2 cases where babies have been given a lifetime of free travel from the airline carrier they were born in. In 1995, Dararasami Thongcharoen was born 2 months earlier than scheduled and it happened on Thai Airways. In addition to being able to fly for free on Thai Airways, she also got an educational scholarship and is considered a “daughter of Thai Airways”. The other baby, Mohd Aliff Mohd Fuad, was born in 1996 on Asia Pacific Airlines and he too got a lifetime of free air travel and education sponsored by the airline.

The other question commonly asked is of course what citizenship a child gets if he or she is born on a plane or on a ship in international waters. What do you think?

Reference:
Mikkelson, B. (2007, July 18). The plane truth. Retrieved January 24, 2009, from snopes.com Web site: http://www.snopes.com/pregnant/airbaby.asp

Easmon, C. (2005, April 1). Pregnancy and travel. Retrieved January 24, 2009, from netdoctor.co.uk Web site: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/diseases/ &pregnancy_and_travel.htm

If you want to read more about urban legends, here are books you can check out at our libraries.

For Children:

Image retrieved from www.amazon.com

Urban legends by Rachel Lynette
Publisher: Detroit : KidHaven Press, c2008
Call Number: J English 398.2 LYN -[FOL]

Image retrieved from shopping.discovery.com

Mythbusters: don’t try this at home! by Mary Packard
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : Jossey-Bass, c2006
Call Number: J English 507.8 PAC

For Adults:

Image retrieved from www.amazon.com

Lemmings don’t leap: 180 myths, misconceptions and urban legends exploded by Edwin Moore
Publisher: Edinburgh : Chambers, 2006.
Call Number: English 001.96 MOO

Singapore urban legends: myths & mysteries, edited by Tee Hun
Publisher: Singapore : SPH Magazines, 2005.
Call Number: SING English 398.2095957 SIN

All websites are last accessed on 24 January 2009. 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.

Answered by Felicia Chan,

Librarian, Children’s Services

ASK about Anything and Everything

There are many traditions and beliefs surrounding this festival, probably the most important in Chinese culture for it heralds the beginning of a new year, new beginnings, new hopes. Below are some facts about Chinese New Year taken from books, NLB Infopedia and NLB eResources. The below information was also compiled for Frasers Management Mall’s learning panels at Compass Point Shopping Mall:

1. A traditional “octagonal tray”, or the 八宝盒, is used to contain a variety of goodies for visitors during the Chinese New Year. The eight-sided tray also symbolises fortune as “8” sounds like “发” in the Cantonese dialect, meaning prosperity.

2. Singapore celebrated Chinese New Year with the first Chingay Parade in February 1973. Chingay comes from the words zhuang yi, 妆 艺, or ‘dressing up for a masquerade’. In 2005, an astonishing number of 40 dancing dragons in the multi-cultural Chingay festivities made it to the Guinness Book of World Records.

3. On the 5th day of Chinese New Year, Chinese businessmen set off firecrackers and put up lion dance performances at their place of business to welcome the God of Wealth and Prosperity. It is believed that the God of Wealth and Prosperity descends to earth from the heavens on this day, bringing prosperity and good fortune.

4. Spring-cleaning is done to usher in the Chinese New Year. When spring cleaning is completed, the brooms will be kept out of sight, as it is believed that brooms will sweep away one’s good luck.

5. Nian Gao 年糕 is a snack made from glutinous rice flour and sugar. The name sounds like “going upward”, implying a rise in status. The round shape symbolizes friendship, its sticky texture loyalty, and its sweetness a sweet life.

6. On lunar new year’s eve, after the family reunion dinner, children are encouraged to observe new year vigil (守岁) by staying up till midnight and beyond. Some Chinese believe that this will prolong the lives of their parents. In return, the young ones get gift money before turning in.

7. 2009 is the year of the ox, one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. People born under this sign are believed to be responsible and hard working.

8. Fire crackers are used by the Chinese community in many countries to usher in the new year. A legend says that it was used to drive evil spirits away.

9. The colourful yusheng 鱼生 that we eat today was actually created by four chefs while they were working in Singapore back in the 1960s. This dish is unique to Singapore and Malaysia.

10. Dumplings or jiaozi 饺子 is a common dish for some reunion dinners. Do you know that some families wrap a coin in their dumplings? It is believed that the one who eats that dumpling will be richer in the New Year!

References: Various

If you are keen to read more about cultures and customs, check out books with the call number 305, 306, 390-398, in the General collection of public libraries. Take a look also at traditional games in Singapore here.

Contributed by Yasmin Ally, Ang Mei Jun, Chui Suet Fen, Huang Su San, Michelle Kwok, Lim Han Sen, Gladys Low, Mohamed Marhama, Ng Cheng Soon and Ng Hwee Miang.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Librarian, Adult & 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.

From 1st Jan 2009, smokers would need to think twice before they light up their cigarettes in Singapore. The ever-growing list of nationwide ban on non-smoking areas has now been extended to include multi-storey and underground carparks, hotel lobbies, and a 5-metre radius of building entrances and exits as well.

** To retrieve the relevant newspaper articles, you can access the electronic database Factiva at terminals in NLB Library branches or also remotely from home. (Select the header “eResources” and the option “eDatabases”)

For the exact list of places which are banned from smoking as well as its FAQ, you can refer to the relevant website by the National Environment Agency for more details.

** Above image was extracted from http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com on 14 Jan 2009.

On a personal note, I’m just waiting for that one fine day whereby the Singapore Government introduce “yellow boxes” islandwide and smokers like myself have to stand and cramp ourselves in such boxes like some caged-chickens-waiting-to-be-slaughtered. Perhaps such a move may be able to make me stub out my long-time puff?? Who knows…

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 and Young People’s Services

From 1 April 2009, the following policy changes will be implemented:

Disruption of Borrowing Privileges
Members with unpaid library fines and fees will have their borrowing privileges disrupted. They can immediately start to borrow again once they pay up the outstanding amount. With this policy, members can no longer accumulate unpaid library fines and fees.

Removal of Renewal Fee
The $0.50 renewal fee will be removed for each borrowed item to encourage members to renew their borrowed materials when necessary. The current policy of allowing each borrowed item to be renewed once will remain unchanged. Audiovisual materials also cannot be renewed. All borrowed items can only be renewed before or on the due date. Items which have been reserved by other patrons cannot however be renewed.

“Members who return borrowed materials promptly will not be affected and the policy changes will not cause any additional burden to the general public financially.”
** source: NLB press release

Patrons are encouraged to subscribe to NLB’s reminder and notification service for their convenience as well… And yes, this service is free of charge!!  

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 and Young People’s Services

Here it is folks, the moment you’ve all been waiting for — The winning question for December 2008, and it goes to…

Question: Do international country calling codes have any relation to the country’s history or status? For example, the US calling code is +1 and Singapore’s is +65. Our year of independence is 1965.
** This Question had been edited for better clarity

Answer: International country calling codes are assigned according to the country’s respective geographical zones/ country groups by CCITT (Consultative Committee for International Telegraphy and Telephony) in 1964. We are unable to find any other logic in the assignment of the codes. There are 9 groups of countries altogether. Singapore is in zone 6, so the calling code begins with 6 but US calling code +1 shares the same code with Canada.
The country calling codes may be changed if a country is separated from another country. Country calling codes can contain one to three digits.

World Zone 1 – North and Central America (only country code +1)
World Zone 2 – Africa
World Zone 3 & 4 – Europe
World Zone 5 – South America
World Zone 6 – Oceania, Australia, etc.
World Zone 7 – USSR (only country code +7)
World Zone 8 – Eastern Asia
World Zone 9 – Western Asia, Middle East

You may look up the various codes & the developments of country codes assignments from the above info source: World Telephone Numbering Guide at http://www.wtng.info
Other Web resources:
International Telecommunications Union (formerly CCITT) http://www.itu.int

** All websites last accessed 7 January 2009

Congrats to the winner!!! We’ll be contacting the winner separately to collect the prize won.

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 and Young People’s Services

After weeks of intensive selection for the most interesting question asked for November 2008, the panel of judges has finally decided on the winning question. Here’s the winning question asked, and also the answer provided by the Librarians. Our congrats to the winner!!! We will contact the winner separately on collecting the prize won.

Question: Why is a rising stock market called a bull market? Why is a falling stock market called a bear market?
** This Question had been edited for better clarity

Answer: There seems to be no fixed agreement on how the terms came about. However, most sources point to the way the animals attack their prey as reasons for their being used to describe markets behaving in a certain way.
For example,
[1] The use of “bull” and “bear” to describe markets comes from the way the animals attack their opponents. A bull thrusts its horns up into the air while a bear swipes its paws down. These actions are metaphors for the movement of a market. If the trend is up, it’s a bull market. If the trend is down, it’s a bear market.
(Source: http://www.investopedia.com/)

[2] “Bear” because the animal tends to drag down its prey. “Bull” because the animal tends
to throw its prey upwards.
(Source: http://www.fundsupermart.com/)

[3] Some say the description refers to the way that the animal attacks. Bull attacks (with its
horns) from bottom up (benefiting from buying low, selling high). A bear on the other hand,
attacks (with its paw) from above (high prices) down (benefiting from short selling).
(Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Bull-market)

** All websites last accessed 3 December 2008

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 and Young People’s Services

Depending on their life stages, sunflowers in their bud stage do turn towards the sun, and in its growing stage to the East, but they do not always tend to follow the sun thereafter.
“When the plant is in the bud stage, it tends to track the movement of the sun across the horizon. Once the flower opens into the radiance of yellow petals, it faces east. No one knows why. However, it is likely a defensive response. Facing south or west could result in sun-scalding of seeds during very hot days.”

(extracted from the National Sunflower Association,  last accessed date: 5/1/2009)

 Originally answered by Eleaner Ang, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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

Kids ASK! about Health & Fitness

Motion sickness is a condition which is caused by motion and is characterised by nausea. The term ‘motion sickness’ came about from J. A. Irwin in 1881 as a general word to describe similar conditions such as seasickness, car sickness, train sickness.

Motion sickness is the result from motion activities such as rocking, swinging, turning and the infamous up-and-down movement. Due to this movements, the body, inner ear and eyes send different signals to the brain. As these nerve fibres attempts to compensate for these unfamilliar motion, your sensory perceptions go out of sync.

For example, there is a disjoint between one’s vision system and inner ear when the eyes tell the brain that the cabin walls of a ship are stable, when actuallty it is not due to the rocking motion of the ship. The brain receives ‘messages’ from the vision system that the world is stable but the inner ear disagrees. This results in nausea, giddiness and drowsiness. Some other symptoms include cold sweating, salivation and of course, vomiting.

Thankfully, motion sickness can be avoided. Here are some tips on preventing motion sickness:

1) One well known remedy is ginger, taken in any form can help to reduce the unpleasant feeling in the stomach.
2) Another would be to eat a small, light low fat starchy meal before travelling and to munch on some crackers along the way if it is a long trip.
3) Minimise body movements, especially head movements unnecessarily.
4) Keep yourself busy with other thoughts.

Sources:
1) Wee, Vincent (2007, December, 7). Feeling funny in my tummy. Business Times Singapore,
2) How to avoid motion sickness . (1992, May, 27). Straits Times, p. Health & Science.
3) motion sickness. (2008). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 9, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition: library.ebonline.com/eb/article-9053966

For more information on general health maintenance, here are some recommended library books:

Why do I vomit? and other questions about digestion by Angela Royston
Publisher: Oxford: Heinemann Library, 2002
Series Title: Heinemann infosearch / Body matters
Call No.: J 612.3 ROY

Headaches by Rick Petreycik
Publisher: New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, c2007
Series Title: Health alert
Summary: “Explores the history, causes, symptoms, treatments, and future of different types of headaches”
Call No.: J 616.8 PET

Everything you need to know about migraines and other headaches by Barbara Moe
Publisher: New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2000
Series Title: Need to know library
Summary: Describes the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of migraine headaches and compares them to other kinds of headaches.
Call No.: Y 616.857 MOE

Illness by Terri DeGezelle
Publisher: Harlow, Essex [England]: Heinemann Library, 2009
Series: The real deal
Call No.: J 616 DEG

All websites were last accessed on 3 January 2009. Please check the websites’ homepages for the terms and conditions of use. All book summaries were taken from the book descriptions. All images were extracted from www.amazon.com and www.bn.com.

For the availability of the above book titles, please check the library catalogue.

Originally answered by Mr Zulkifli Bin Amin
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Posted by Ms Elizabeth Lee
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services

Found this post 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.