Hearing such words of praise being heaped upon NLB libraries can be flattering indeed, more so when they are being uttered by the Chair of the Section of Public Libraries, IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions), Ms. Barbara H. Clubb. 

NLB played host to Ms. Clubb and 13 other committee members, one of whom is Ms. Ngian Lek Choh, Senior Director, Library Services, NLB, when  they held their Spring Meeting in Singapore from 7 to 8 March 2002 - the first time they are holding such an event in our country. 

The Section held a one and a half-day meeting in the Marine Parade Community Library, and spent the rest of their time visiting NLB libraries, including the venue of their meeting, Marine Parade Community Library, Mountbatten Community Children's Library, library@orchard and Woodlands Regional Library. 

Ms Clubb, who is also City Librarian of the Ottawa Public Library, Canada, was all praises for "the welcome of the Singapore library community", which she credits for setting the ideal environment for her members to interact better and accomplish "some heavy duty discussing and future planning". 

"We've never had such a lively  discussion in the last five years...the meetings have been really good and I think we've set the standard for the future," echoed the Committee Secretary, Mr. Borge Sondergard, who is also the Director of Horsens City Library, Denmark. 
 

Trading Knowledge With The Experts

NLB staff also had the chance to tap on the knowledge and expertise of the IFLA librarians when the Chair, Secretary and two other committee members presented on their projects at Woodlands Regional Library on 11 March. 

Ms. Clubb spoke about the objectives IFLA and the work of Public Libraries Section. She also gave an interesting overview of the digitisation programmes in the Canadian libraries. Mr. Borge Sondergard, on the other hand, shared the highlights of the National Library Authority strategies, gave an overview of the Danish Public Library System and showcased examples of the electronic resources built by Danish librarians. 

The other two speakers were French librarian Ms. Florence Ponce, General Manager of the Book and Reading Department in her country's Ministry of Culture and Communication and Mrs. Torny Kjekstad, Library Director from  Bærum Public Library, Norway. 

Ms. Ponce's presentation featured an exciting "virtual" library tour of France, and a discussion of the challenges faced by the French librarian community while Mrs. Kjekstad touched on Norway's library services for the elderly and disabled. 

The short visit has definitely ignited Ms. Clubb's interest in NLB's work in Singapore. "I would like to come back...I don't think we've truly understood all the elements that make things happen in Singapore's libraries. We've got so much more to learn because we have only scratched the surface in this visit." 
 

About IFLA

IFLA (The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) is the leading international body representing the interests of library and information services and their users. It is the global voice of the library and information profession. 

Founded in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1927, the body is set to celebrate its 75th birthday at a conference scheduled to take place in Glasgow, Scotland later this year. They now have 1622 members in 143 countries around the world. 

The  Section of Public Libraries of the IFLA provides an active international forum for the development and promotion of public libraries that serve the whole community in the context of the information society and ensure free and equal access to information at the local level. 

Ms. Ngian Lek Choh, Senior Director, Library Services at NLB, represents Singapore as Standing Committee Member of the SPL. 

Visit their website at http://www.ifla.org/VII/s8/spl.htm