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• Index of this issue

No. 60, November 2007

• Introduction
• NLB’s Memorandum of Understanding with RSIS
• Provision of Non-Sensitive Information on Terrorism
• Public Talks on Terrorism
• Staging of Exhibitions for Public Education
• Provision of List of Works Written by Islamic Scholars
• Trainig of NLB Staff in Terrorism Research
• Conclusion
• References

Introduction

Libraries are treasure houses of knowledge. They house a wide array of resources that meet the information needs of their patrons. However, there may be occasions when libraries lack the in-depth resources and knowledge expertise required to effectively meet the research needs of its users. This is especially so when the information required is very specific in nature. No library in this world can possibly have all the information to cater to all types of information needs. In this regard, the National Library Board of Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University in Singapore to see how two institutions could work together to cater to people interested in terrorism-related information, a specialised subject area.

In the case of information on terrorism, the National Library Board (NLB) has the content but not the necessary depth to meet very specific information needs. In addition, NLB does not have the experts in the field of terrorism who can speak or write about terrorism with authority. Thus, if a crisis similar to 9/11 occurs, NLB’s resources may not be able to adequately meet the research needs of those who need in-depth materials on the subject at hand.

On the other hand, RSIS, a research institution, “has acquired the reputation as a leading research and graduate teaching institution in strategic and international affairs in the Asia-Pacific region”. (NIRA World Directory of Think Tanks). Its strength in terrorism research is noteworthy. It has the resources and the experts on terrorism. At the same time, RSIS has shown a desire to disseminate information on terrorism to the public for public education. However, RSIS’ location in the western corner of Singapore means that the School is not as easily accessible to researchers as NLB’s network of over 20 libraries across the island-state.

Given the above situations in both institutions, it is clear that NLB and RSIS could leverage on each other’s strengths and work together to facilitate research as well as educate the public on terrorism-related issues. Such cooperation would also benefit the research community. Cooperation of this nature would combine RSIS’ expertise and NLB’s accessibility, thereby greatly enhancing access to the necessary resources to facilitate terrorism research. Such a relationship is also in line with NLB’s Library 2010 strategy, which is to build a network of knowledge assets (in this case, knowledge assets available at RSIS) and make them accessible to interested parties. To formalise this synergistic relationship, both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 12 Sep 2007.

At this juncture, it is imperative to state that the terms of the MOU have yet to be fully operationalised.  Meetings are being held to discuss and put into practice the terms agreed upon under the MOU. Nonetheless, it is useful to share what the MOU has to offer.

NLB’s Memorandum of Understanding with RSIS

The NLB-RSIS MOU formalises a relationship based on synergy. It is one in which both institutions tap on each other’s strengths with the ultimate aim of educating the public on terrorism and the dangers terrorism poses to society. In this regard, a number of areas of co-operation have been identified and outlined in the MOU. Some of the items agreed upon in the MOU are as follows:

• Provision of non-sensitive information on terrorist personalities, acts of terror, and time and place of terrorist activities by RSIS to NLB.
• Organising of talks by NLB for members of the public on political violence, terrorism issues and challenges.
• Staging of exhibitions for public education in NLB’s libraries.
• RSIS would provide a list of works written by Islamic scholars to enhance NLB’s collection development and to educate the public.
• Training of NLB staff by RSIS on terrorism informatics.

Provision of Non-Sensitive Information on Terrorism

RSIS had accumulated a wealth of data on terrorist activities, time and place of terrorist events and the profiles of terrorists involved in such acts. They would make available only non-sensitive information to the public for information and research purposes. Such a move would benefit both institutions and researchers in two ways:

• It ensures that NLB does not have to reinvent the terrorism information wheel, as there is already a rich resource collected by RSIS.
• It provides the public with easy points of access to terrorism-related information through the NLB’s infrastructure. Users keen on obtaining such information could readily obtain the information from NLB’s extensive, island-wide network of libraries, and perhaps even from home in the future.

Public Talks on Terrorism

To educate the public about terrorism, talks would be held on a regular basis.  RSIS would provide NLB the speakers for each talk. For its part, NLB would promote these talks and provide the logistics and venue to hold them.For a start, a talk on terrorism has been scheduled to be held some time in December 2007.

Apart from educating the public, such talks could also help to stimulate interest in terrorism research. Participants at these talks would be able to tap on the expertise of the speakers. Furthermore, participants would be made aware of the availability of relevant literature should they express an interest in knowing more. During such events, relevant books and resource lists are usually displayed prominently for interested participants to either borrow or for reference in their research.

Staging of Exhibitions for Public Education

To further stimulate interest in terrorism research, exhibitions on terrorism would be held in NLB’s libraries. Once again, RSIS’ expertise in terrorism research would be tapped to set up the exhibits. The full details of the exhibitions are currently being worked out. Here too, relevant books and resource lists would be put up for display.

Provision of List of Works Written by Islamic Scholars

RSIS has access to and is in contact with Islamic scholars. RSIS is therefore in a strong position to help compile a list of theological works by Islamic scholars that could be forwarded to NLB to aid the latter in developing a collection of such works. NLB would leverage on its own resources to develop and promote this collection. At the heart of the matter is a great desire by both institutions to enable people interested in conducting research in Islamic beliefs and practices to gain ready access to works written by Islamic scholars.

Training of NLB Staff in Terrorism Research

The MOU also envisages RSIS specialists training NLB’s librarians in terrorism research. This would help librarians develop their competencies in terrorism research. Among the competencies that may be developed would be the sensitising of librarians to terrorism-related information so that they could effectively assist researchers in terrorism research. It would also expose them to a wide array of resources on terrorism, which would be useful in three ways:

• Help identify both print and non-print resources, which may be compiled and published in the form of bibliographies/webliographies to facilitate research.
• Help identify gaps in the collection, which can be further strengthened, thereby facilitating research.
• Enable relevant resources to be identified and compiled quickly in the event of an information demand surge should an act of terror similar to the 9/11 attacks in 2001 occur. When such a crisis occurs, librarians specialising in terrorism research may help to identify and quickly put together print and non-print resources on terrorism-related issues in a short time. This capability would be critical in helping people who would take an instant interest in terrorism or those trying to make sense of the events or in the aftermath of such events.

Conclusion

The NLB-RSIS MOU provides an example on how libraries and relevant institutions could work together to educate the public on terrorism and facilitate terrorism research. The MOU symbolises the desire of both institutions to commit resources jointly to help educate the public on terrorism. This MOU could be one model for such synergistic cooperation in terrorism research and public education by libraries and research institutions elsewhere.

References

National Library Board (2007). Library 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2007, from http://www.nlb.gov.sg/CPMS.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Library2010

NIRA World Directory of Think Tanks. (2007, January). S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. Retrieved October 2, 2007, from http://www.nira.go.jp/ice/nwdtt/2005/DAT/1276.html

Joint Press Release Issued by National Library Board (2007) and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies on September 12, 2007, from http://www.nlb.gov.sg