Two more mobile libraries hit the road

Two more mobile libraries hit the road

SINGAPORE - The National Library Board (NLB) yesterday boosted the number of mobile libraries it has by adding two more vans.

The two new mini-Mollys, which are smaller versions of the NLB's library-on-wheels called Molly, will reach out to about 48,000 children from 160 preschools and welfare homes. They will cover places with smaller carparks that Molly cannot.

NLB chief executive Elaine Ng said yesterday that Molly, which was rolled out in 2008, reached out to 75 organisations last year. This included childcare centres, and welfare and old-age homes. It served over 102,000 visitors and about 150,000 loans were made.

With the two new vehicles, the fleet will now reach 235 organisations a year - almost three times the number of locations.

The mini-Mollys will visit preschools at least once a month.

Yesterday, 12 children from My First Skool childcare centre in Haig Road were the first to get on board one of the mini-Mollys, where Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State for Communications and Information, and Education, spent time reading storybooks to them.

Sponsored by the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, the 7.5m-long vans each carry 1,500 books, and can take 12 children at a time. They also have their own borrowing station and book drop-off point.

Librarians on board will conduct activities such as singalong sessions for pre-schoolers.

This article was published on May 9 in The Straits Times.

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

[[nid:25328]]
[[nid:48870]]
[[nid:25363]]
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.