ASK!

Similar to boats and ships, submarines use the concept of upthrust to sink or float. Upthrust is created by water that is pushed out of the way (displaced) by an object. Submarines change their weights depending on whether they wish to dive under the water or rise to the surface.

If a submarine is about to dive, its weight is increased by pumping water into large tanks. When the weight of the submarine is greater than the upthrust it creates by displacing water, it begins to sink. The more water that is pumped into the tanks, the heavier the submarine, and the faster it sinks.

When the submarine has reached the required depth, some of the water is pumped out of these tanks to decrease its weight. When the upthrust and weight are equal, the submarine will neither rise nor sink. It will remain at that depth. If the submarine is to surface, more water is pumped from the tanks so that the upthrust is now greater than the weight.

Source: Floating and Sinking. (2010). In The Hutchinson Unabridged Encyclopedia with Atlas and Weather guide. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/heliconhe/floating_and_sinking
(Last accessed: 26 March 2011)

Originally answered by Rosjihanah Mon
Associate Librarian, Children’s Services

Event details:
Date: Saturday, 16 April 2011
Time: 8.30am to 6.00pm
Venue: The Plaza, National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street

Recycle your books at the Book Exchange! Drop off your used books* at any Public Library from 2 to 15 April, 11.00am to 8.00pm and get a coupon for every book** accepted. Present your coupon at the Book Exchange for a one-for-one exchange of books.

*We accept adults’ and children’s fiction and non-fiction books (eg. cookbooks, travel guides and romance novels) in the four official languages. We also accept used library books bought from previous Library Book Sales. Used books for exchange should be in relatively good physical condition. Textbooks, magazines and audio-visual materials are not accepted.

**Each person can exchange up to a maximum of 50 used books. For enquiries, please call NLB Helpdesk at 6332 3255 or email: helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg.

Note: NLB reserves the right to change the terms and conditions without prior notice

Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

The newest public library opened its doors to the public on 11th Mar 2011. Serangoon Public Library (SRPL) is located on the rooftop of Nex Mall at Serangoon Central. Click on the map below to see the location of SRPL.

With a floor area of 1,635 square metres, SRPL has a startup collection of approximately 150,000 items, which include books, magazines and audio-visual materials in the four official languages. The first public library in Singapore to have a dedicated area for gaming, SRPL aims to promote learning and a reading culture by tapping on the educational effects of games.

To celebrate the opening of SRPL, an exhibition titled “Serangoon: A place like no other” will be on display at the library. This exhibition showcases the heritage of the Serangoon area, as well as winning entries of the recently held “People, Places & Recollections” photo contest, where the community was invited to share photographs on the Serangoon area.

The library has also teamed up with community and grassroots organisations to organise thematic programmes that engage both the young and old through interactive learning. Library users can look forward to programmes on heritage and green living as well as storytelling sessions for children. For more information on upcoming programmes at SRPL, you may visit NLB’s
Go Library website.

And if you are on Facebook, you can visit SRPL‘s Facebook page. Go Like it today!

Posted by Yen Yen Toh, Librarian, Adult and Young People’s Services

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If you have a different question, please email to ask@nlb.gov.sg instead of sending a comment

Well, that depends on the type of pandas!

The giant panda, otherwise scientifically known as the Ailuropoda melanoleuca, is a bear! Physically, the giant panda does resemble a bear, with its stubby tail and bulky physique. It has “black and white fur and feeds on bamboo forests at high altitudes in western China”. Also, it can be found in the Himalayas as well.

However, the other type of panda, known as the red or lesser panda, the Ailurus fulgens , has “thick reddish brown fur”, “white face markings and a long ringed tail.” The lesser panda belongs to the raccoon family and unlike the giant panda which is a solitary animal, the lesser panda prefers to “live in pairs or small groups in bamboo forests.”

Sources:
1) Brittancia Online Reference Center: Giant Panda-Ailuropoda melanoleuca
2) Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia:Panda
3) Kids Infobits: Pandas

For more information on pandas, do check out these books!

All Rights Reserved, Mankato, Minn. : Capstone Press
Giant Pandas by Lyn A. Sirota
Cal Number: JP English 599.789 SIR
Check item availability here

All Rights Reserved, Minneapolis, Minn. : Lerner Publications Co
Giant Pandas by Michelle Levine
Call Number: JP English 599.789 LEV
Check item availability here

All Rights Reserved, New York : PowerKids Press, 2009
Save The Panda by Sarah Eason
Call Number: J English 599.789 EAS
Check item availability here

Posted By:

Ms Chen Wanying
Children’s Librarian
Children’s Services