ASK!

Kids ASK! about Anything & Everything

[Editor: With the megapixel race and competition to produce the best camera with the best megapixel, is it not comforting to know, as of now, that nothing can capture a picture the way our human eyes can? That said, our eye is not so much a camera taking one-time shots, as much as it is like a video camera, continuously processing information. Any kind of answer can only be arbitrary and this is the general answer that has been circulating around the Internet, quoted and re-quoted.]

Our eye processes images at about around 576 megapixels of image data.

The average human retina has five million cone receptors and also a hundred million rods that detect monochrome contrast, which plays an important role in the sharpness of the image you see. However, this is an underestimate because the eye is not a still camera.

Your two eyes are continually flicking around to cover a much larger area than your field of view and the image is assembled in the brain. Imagine taking multiple shots and then putting them together to compose a panoramic photo. In good light, you might actually see two fine lines if they are separated by at least 0.6 arc-minutes (0.01 degrees).

This gives an equivalent pixel size of 0.3 arc-minutes. Lets say you give your eyes a vision field of a conservative 120 degrees horizontal and 60 degrees vertical, this translates to 576MP of available image data. In other words, it we were not conservative in our estimate, the megapixel count will be even higher.

Reference:
MoPo, Your Eye’s “Megapixel” resolution. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from MoPo.ca Web site: http://www.mopo.ca/2007/03/your-eyes-megapixel-resolution.html

If you want to read more about cameras and photography, here are books that you can check out at our library.

Image retrieved from www.amazon.com

Digital photography by Alan Buckingham
Publisher: London : Dorling Kindersley, 2005
Call No.: J English 778 BUC

Image retrieved from www.allbookstores.com

Cameras by Kristin Petrie
Publisher: Edina, Minn. : ABDO Pub., c2009
Call No.: J English 771.3 PET

How to take digital photographs by Jenny Bidner
Publisher: London : Franklin Watts, 2007
Call No.: J English 775 BID

All websites are last accessed on 27 February 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 Mr Koh Chee Boon
Librarian, Children’s Services

Posted by Ms Felicia Chan
Librarian, Children’s Services

ASK! about Fiction

Below are some recommendations:

1. Title: The dark mirror
Author: Juliet Marillier
Publisher: New York : Tor, 2007.
Call No.: MAR -[FN]

2. Title :Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Author: Susanna Clarke ; illustrations by Portia Rosenberg
Publisher: London : Bloomsbury, 2004.
Call No.: CLA -[FN]

3. Title: A song for Arbonne
Author: Guy Gavriel Kay
Publisher: London : Earthlight, 2002.
Call No.: KAY -[FN]

 4. Title: Stardust
Author: Neil Gaiman
Publisher: New York : Spike, 1999
Call No.: GAI – [FN]
(editor: Stardust has been made into a movie, starring Claire Danes, in 2007)

You can check our online catalog (http://catalog.nlb.gov.sg/) for the locations and availabilities of the above titles.

 Originally answered by Ms Lynn Koh, 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

The Annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, recently ended its 81st run. The films nominated this year were just as exciting to watch as other years. There were the usual favourites among the nominees, as well as some surprise wins. Check out the official 81st Annual Academy Awards website for all the information you need to know about the award.

In case you are wondering whose the best (and worst) dressed celebrities, happenings at the backstage and other juicy news, you can also check out this link from MSN SG website.

** All websites last accessed 26 Feb 2009

Also, you can easily search for online newspaper articles regarding this year’s Oscars from NLB’s online electronic database “Factiva” from NLB’s e-Resources page. This Factiva can either be remotely accessed from home (with retrieval access restrictions) or onsite at any of NLB’s 22 Public Library branches located islandwide in Singapore.

Indeed, this year’s Oscars had came and gone.. And already I’m looking forward to the 82nd run with anticipation..

** Above image was extracted from http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/oscars.jpg on 26 Feb 2009.

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 Pets & Animals

The deadliest octopus in the world is the blue-ringed octopus. The blue-ringed octopus may look small (about the size of a golf ball) and beautiful but one bite from this little creature is enough to kill a man within minutes! There is no known antidote for the deadly poison, which is contained in the octopus’s saliva. Fortunately, the blue-ringed octopus is not an aggressive creature and will only bite in self-defence.

Sources:
i) Interesting Animals. Retrieved February 26, 2009, from Did you know? Web site: http://www.didyouknow.org/animals/octopus.htm
ii) Payne, Jan (2008). The world’s best book. London: Buster Books.

Read these books to find out more about the octopus: 

1) The world’s best book by Jan Payne.
Call number: J 032.02 PAY

2) The octopus by Lynn M. Stone.
Call number: J 594 STO

3) It’s true! An octopus has deadly spit by Nicki Greenberg.
Call number: J 594 GRE

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

All websites were last accessed on 26 February 2009. All images were extracted from www.amazon.com.

Posted by Adeline Tan
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.

NLB is launching a new mobile portal packed with library services for people on the move. This will be a year long trial, so try out the portal now! Remember to give us your feedback to help us improve this service as we are working to make this portal as convenient and useful to you.

** STAND TO WIN BOOK VOUCHERS WHEN YOU GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK!! **

What is available on the Library in Your Pocket (BETA) portal?
You can search our catalogue, check your library account, renew and reserve books, keep up to date on our latest arrivals and events happening in the library, SMS queries to ASK! A Librarian, download and read short stories and NLB blogs, as well as subscribe to our free reminder & e-notification service.

How do I access Library in Your Pocket (BETA)?
Open the Internet browser on your mobile phone and go to this address -> http://m.nlb.gov.sg Most phones models already have built in web browsers. You should be able to access them via GPRS, 3G or Wifi. You can also SMS “mnlb” to 91842014 to download this link as a bookmark in your mobile phone.

Will I incur any cost when accessing Library in Your Pocket (BETA)?
You would incur data charges that are in accordance with your respective mobile service providers’ rates. NLB does not charge any fee for any connection to the mobile portal. However, existing library transaction fees (Eg. for reservation or renewal of items) apply.

How do I win the book vouchers??
After trying out Library in Your Pocket, click the ‘Feedback’ link (still within the Library in Your Pocket portal). Write us your comments, suggestions & feedback and leave us your details in the boxes provided. Your name will be automatically entered into the lucky draw when you submit the form. Terms and conditions apply.

When is this beta trial ending?
The trial will end on 31st January 2010.

Help! I can’t connect to the Internet on my mobile phone and do not know what’s wrong. You can get help from your respective mobile service providers. Namely:
Singtel: http://www.ideas.singtel.com/ or dial 1610
Starhub: http://www.starhub.com/ or dial 1633
M1: http://m1.com.sg/M1/site/M1Corp/ or 1622
** All websites last accessed 19 Feb 2009 **

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

ASK! about Recreation

Bicycles are not inventions that can be claimed by any one person. Rather, the machine is an evolution of ideas dating back to the 18th century. Some say the idea started even earlier from drawings by Leonardo da Vinci.

The most successful attempt to build one can be credited to Baron Karl von Drais of Germany. Named draisine, it resembles bicycles of today, except with pedals missing.

Later, the draisine was further developed and pedals were added. A patent was applied for this improved model and bicycles began to attract growing numbers of fans and users.

Cycling today has become a popular hobby and sport. The sport is also the reason behind the careers of famous cyclists like Lance Armstrong (notwithstanding his chivalry with red carpet stars). You can read about him from books like Lance Armstrong: tour de force by Daniel Coyle (Call No.: 796.62092 COY -[REC]). There are simple books for children about Armstrong as well under the same call number 796.6.

Find more recommendations of books on bikes and bicycles with this list.

References:
1. World book encyclopedia v. 2, Chicago : Field Enterprises Educational Corp., 1917
2. Bell, Trudy E. “Bicycle.” Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 19 Feb. 2009 .

BIKEASIA 2009 
Singapore Expo Hall 3, 27 February – 1 March 2009

The Public Libraries have been supporting various public events through outreach and talks. This time, we are going down to BIKEASIA 2009. This is a lifestyle exhibition dedicated to bicycles, motorcycles, biking apparel, accessories and biking tourism. You will find books on cycling and riding at our booth, and win tokens when you borrow or use our ASK! service.  And if you didn’t think that the quiet library can have books on such an exciting sport, be surprised by what we are bringing there for you!

If you’re a library member, you get to enjoy a special concession rate of $8.50 (usual price $15) to enter. Simply show a loan receipt, dated 1 Jan to 1 Mar 2009  for at least one book, when purchasing tickets at the exhibition or via their online ticketing portal.

Also catch the adrenalin pumping motor stunts, bicycle trials and BMX demo, as well as take part in the lucky draw. For more information on the event, visit the Bike Asia website.

Contributed by Huang Su San, Associate Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Associate 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.

Kids ASK! about Anything & Everything

Cereal is cooked at a high temperature, and this creates extremely strong bonds which hold the rice’s starch molecules together. These strong bonds make the rice act like glass.

During the cooking process, each piece of rice expands, causing a network of air-filled caves and tunnels to form within.

When milk is poured into your breakfast bowl, the cereal absorbs the milk. The milk flows into the crispy kernel, putting pressure on the air inside and pushes it around. The air knocks against each pocket’s walls until they shatter, causing a snap, or a crackle, or, sometimes a pop. Tiny air bubbles trapped inside the kernels also escape to the surface.

Source: (2006, April 24). Why Rice Krispies go Snap, Crackle, Pop! Retrieved February 10, 2009, from Live Science website: http://www.livescience.com/environment
060424_MM_rice_krispies.html

Does cereal tickle your taste buds? You may be interested in these books:

From corn to cereal by Roberta Basel
Mankato, MI : Capstone Press, c2006
Call No.: J P 664 BAS

The life of W.K. Kellogg by Tiffany Peterson
Publisher: Oxford : Heinemann Library, 2003.
Call No.: J P 338.7 PET

Eureka! Great inventions and how they happened by Richard Platt
Publisher: Boston, Mass. : Kingfisher, c2003.
Call No.: J 608 PLA

Glorious grasses : the grains by Meredith Sayles Hughes
Publisher: Minneapolis : Lerner Publicatons Co., c1999.
Call No.: J 641.3 HUG

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

Originally answered by Hussain Bachek
Librarian
Children’s Services

Posted by Galvin Soh
Librarian
Children’s Services

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

Kids ASK! about Environment

“The average adult needs about 2,800 calories each day to stay healthy. In 1999, the total world food supply provided 2,808 calories per person. By this measure, total food production was sufficient to provide each person with an adequate number of calories.

Despite this, about 800 million people–13 percent of the world’s population–do not get as many calories as they need. The incidence of undernutrition is heaviest in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this area, over one-third of the population is undernourished. This number has remained fairly constant since the 1970′s.

However, in Asia, there has been great progress in reducing the level of undernutrition. The percentage of the population that is undernourished was about 35 percent in the 1970′s. It is less than 20 percent today.”

Source: Leathers, H. D. (2009). Food Supply. The New Book of Knowledge®. Retrieved January 11, 2009, from Grolier Online http://nbk.grolier.com/cgi-bin/article?assetid=a2010620-h

For more information on food supply, here are some recommended library books:

Feeding the world by Brenda Walpole
Publisher: London : Franklin Watts, 2006
Series Title: Earth watch
Call No.: J 630 WAL

Food and the world by Julia Aleen & Margaret Iggulden
Publisher: London : Franklin Watts, 2005
Series Title: Your environment
Call No.: J 363.8 ALL

Feeding the people by Jen Green
Publisher: London : Chrysalis Children’s, 2004
Series Title: Precious Earth
Call No.: J 363.8 GRE

Food for all by Rufus Bellamy
Publisher: London : Franklin Watts, c2004
Series Title: Action for the environment
Call No.: J 338.1 BEL

All websites were last accessed on 10 February 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.

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

Originally answered by Ms Chew Siew San
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.

Kids ASK! about History

According to the World Book Encyclopedia 2001 (Call No.: YR 031 WOR), under the entry “Alphabet”, the English alphabet developed from many early writing systems, from the signs used by the Egyptians around 3000 B.C. to the Greek alphabet around 600 B.C.

Later on, the Romans learned the Greek alphabet and developed their own. Their alphabet had only 23 letters. For many hundreds of years, only capital letters were used. Small letters were developed later. The final 3 letters (J, U and W) were also added to the alphabet later. This formed the modern alphabet we use today.

Source: (2001). Alphabet. In The World Book encyclopedia Chicago: World Book.

For more information on history of the written word, here are some recommended library books:

The written word by Janet Weller ; illustrated by Colin Mier.
Publisher: New York : Franklin Watts, 1998
Summary: Presents a brief overview of writing as a method of communication including such topics as the development of the alphabet, calligraphy, writing implements, graphology, and the invention of printing.
Call No.: J 302.2 WEL

Top secret : a handbook of codes, ciphers, and secret writing by Paul B. Janeczko; illustrated by Jenna LaReau
Publisher: Cambridge, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2004
Summary: A handbook for the budding cryptographer including codes and ciphers, invisible inks, concealment techniques, spy stories and some history.
Call No.: J 652 JAN

Writing in ancient Egypt by Jil Fine
Publisher: New York : PowerKids Press, c2003
Series Title: Reading power / Writing in the ancient world
Call No.: J 493 FIN

Ox, house, stick : the history of our alphabet by Don Robb ; illustrated by Anne Smith
Publisher: Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge, c2007
Summary: See how the Roman alphabet began and how it has changed through the years.
Call No.: J 428.1 ROB

All websites were last accessed on 10 February 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.bn.com and www.powells.com.

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

Originally answered by Mr Lim Sieu Pin
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.

Yes, this month’s winning question has been selected. Our congrats to the lucky chap!! We’ll contact you separately for your prize collection.

Question: Which festival in the world has the longest number of celebration days?
** This Question had been edited for better clarity

Answer: The Nadun Festival (meaning ‘entertainment’ and ‘carnival’ in the Tu language) is a unique folk activity among the Tu ethnic people concentrated in Minghe County, Northwest China’s Qinghai Province. The festival is held after harvesting the wheat in the summer, and usually lasts two months from July 12 to September 15 on the lunar calendar. It’s no wonder that some people call it the longest carnival in the world.
** Source: [www.yellowsheepriver.com/~qh000007/2008/] (last accessed on 13 Jan 2009)

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