To help families through the CB period, the National Library Board has upped their digital offerings with "Live" Storytelling on Facebook, an increased number of e-books, and more!
With the Covid-19 circuit breaker period extended till the 1st of June 2020, families are seeking activities to keep their kids entertained and educated at home. The National Library Board has stepped up to help parents with their digital offerings, including the popular daily Storytelling through a Facebook Live video.
Last updated: 3 Jun 2020
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"Live" Storytelling on Facebook
Happening from Monday through Saturday, librarians will be doing "Live" storytelling sessions on the Public Libraries Singapore Facebook Page. These sessions will be in English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. The timing is listed in the image below.
For our easy reference, these are the pages for catching the storytelling sessions in different languages
8,000 Newly Curated e-Books
The library now offers over 8,000 newly curated e-books with unlimited checkouts, including popular books like Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling.
Check out the newly introduced a “Kids! Skip the Line!” collection of books, which are specially selected copies of titles set aside for immediate borrowing. Instead of the usual 21 days, “Kids! Skip the Line!” books are available for a loan period of 7 days. Patrons can borrow only one “Kids! Skip the Line!” book at any one time.
Some examples of popular titles in the “Kids! Skip The Line!” book collection are
popular series such as Geronimo Stilton, Captain Underpants and Fancy Nancy. The collection will be updated regularly to remain relevant, fresh and trending.
Online Maker Programmes
NLB has also launched a MakeIT Facebook group, as part of PIXEL Labs@NLB. It aims to be a community space for makers and would-be makers to gather and share knowledge, projects and ideas. The Facebook group page will be updated regularly with news, educational posts, eBook recommendations and online workshops on digital making. This also includes DIY activities that can be done at home.
Upcoming Topics
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MakeIT Yourself DIY Face Masks: 2 & 3 May @ 3 pm - 4 pm.
Live on MakeIT Facebook Group, no registration required -
MakeIT: Program Your Droid: 4 May @ 10 am - 12 pm
Zoom, register via Library Go Website -
MakeIT Yourself Mother's Day Digital Card: 10 May @ 3 pm - 4 pm
Live on MakeIT Facebook Group, no registration required
The News Gallery Online Activities
The News Gallery is an exhibition that showcases the rich collection of Singapore newspapers in the National Library as well as the importance of information literacy.
With The News Gallery’s online activities, children at primary school level can explore these old editions and engage in a series of activities that will not only put their media literacy skills to test but also hone their skills at discerning information to prevent the spread of fake news.
Adventures with The SUREvivors Team and Terrific Tuesdays with Monsters United
The SUREvivors team - Source-finding Sarah, Understanding Upin, Researching Raju and Evaluating Emma – continue their adventures from June to August 2020, covering topics such as facts versus opinions, how to do cross-referencing and how to focus on authority and accuracy. Join the team to learn how to discern false information.
Keep an eye out on NLB’s Facebook page as well as they will be uploading fun-filled brainteasers biweekly on Tuesdays suitable for children aged seven to nine!
Insightful Talks and Hands-on Sessions for Adults
In addition to a new learning package touching on topics under Global Economy that will be published fortnightly from June to July, the National Library Board also offers two different series for adults.
The Future of Work series provides bite-sized talks and hands-on sessions that can help adults make sense of and navigate the emerging trends of Future Economy while the Get Professional series focuses on vital skills to improve workplace productivity. If you’re interested in the programs, you can register through Go Library to receive a link to the virtual program.
Activities and Videos for Seniors
For seniors who are looking for a good read, you can check out the National Library Board’s monthly curated list of recommended eBooks covering a range of topics, from mental wellness to fiction with older adults as protagonists. You can also flip through the digital publication, Time of Your Life: Good Reads for the 50+, a quarterly magazine featuring articles on tech, career, lifestyle, and book recommendations in English and mother tongue languages.
If you want to take a break from reading, the Time of Your Life series features a variety of programs themed “Stay Home & Read/Play/Learn” on topics relevant to those aged 50 and above. You can register through Go Library to receive a link to the virtual program on the day of the event.
You can also look forward to a series of activities and videos prepared for seniors to aid them in their information literacy journey.
Programs by NAS
The National Archives of Singapore (NAS) has developed a selection of videos and learning packages on Singapore’s past and progress through the years, this includes stories and quotes from NAS’ oral history collection, archived videos on the developments in Singapore, as well as oral history interviews and videos, among others. You can catch most of the programs on NAS’ Facebook page.
Voices of Innovation, a new video series, is a compilation of moments signifying breakthrough ideas, pioneering efforts, significant changes and new beginnings in Singapore’s history, minute or monumental. You can watch the series on meWATCH.
Don't miss out on the other Digital Resources, including eBooks for Kids and Virtual Exhibitions, by the NLB too! Or do you know something from NLB that we need to feature, let us know in the comments below!
Photo Credits: National Library Board, Public Libraries Singapore Facebook