Ep 6: “Growing a Reading Nation” feat. R. Ramachandran and Michelle Heng
About
In the first of the literary arts episodes of the series, host Charlene Shepherdson speaks with librarians R. Ramachandran and Michelle Heng about the development of Singapore’s reading infrastructure. They shine a spotlight on the foundations laid by pioneering librarian Hedwig Anuar, and how her early work with the National Library and the Singapore Book Council transformed Singapore’s literary arts scene by boosting the public accessibility of local literature and the development of new writing.
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[00:01:55] National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS), renamed the Singapore Book Council: Established in 1968 with the overarching goal of growing and cultivating Singapore’s books and local literary art scene. Organised the Festival of Books and Books Fair, National Reading Month, and awards the Singapore Literature Prize.
[00:02:32] National Library Board (NLB): Established in 1995, oversees the National Library, National Archives of Singapore, 25 public libraries and 2 partner libraries. Today, it is a government statutory board under the Ministry of Communications and Information of the Government of Singapore.
[00:02:56] Lee Kong Chian Reference Library: Occupying Level 7 to 13 of the National Library, it preserves and makes accessible Singapore's literary and publishing heritage. Named after Dr Lee Kong Chian, in honour of the Lee Foundation's S$60 million donation, aims to be the premier resource for works on or about Singapore and the region for local and overseas researchers and academics.
[00:09:40] BookSG: A collection of books and other printed material digitised from the collections of the National Library of Singapore, complemented by selected works from the British Library's Oriental & India Office Collection. The items in this online collection have been digitised by the National Library as part of an endeavour to preserve and provide better access to resources located within the library to enable users to explore and discover these resources.
[00:11:05] The Society for Reading and Literacy (SRL): An organisation striving to make Singapore a nation of readers and writers. Their mission is to champion reading and literacy in Singapore and provide professional leadership by promoting cooperative work among educators and interested parties in the field of literacy.
[00:11:11] Women Learning English (WISH): A literacy project to help women learn English where once a week, Hedwig Anuar personally conducted one-and-a-half-hour classes at the Ang Mo Kio Community centre for 10 housewives who want to learn English. It teaches adult women to read and write English—so they can make a phone call, fill up forms or read addresses.
[00:13:38] Queenstown Public Library: The first full-time branch library to be built by the National Library as part of the efforts to decentralize home reading services. Opened on 30 April 1970 as Queenstown Branch Library. In 1995, it was renamed as Queenstown Community Library when the National Library became a Statutory Board.
[00:22:35] Radio Television Singapore: A radio and television service run by the Ministry of Culture in Singapore that was in operation from 1966 to 1980
[00:23:01] National Reading Month: Held annually from 1984 to 1994 by the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS), it aimed to train Singaporeans in literacy, reading, publishing, library development and the literary arts.
[00:25:55] Singapore Writers’ Festival: The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF), which celebrated its 20th run in 2017, is one of the longest-running literary events in Singapore, celebrating literary works not only in Singapore’s official languages – English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil – but other ones, such as Japanese, as well. The annual Singapore Writers Festival (SWF), described as one of “Asia’s premier literary events”, grew out of the biennial Writers’ Week, which at one point was a fringe event of Singapore Festival of Arts.
[00:26:52] Singapore Integrated Library Automation Service (SILAS): In 1982, the Library Association of Singapore proposed the establishment of a national bibliographic database and at the same time, the Ministry of Finance, which funds all government libraries including universities, received funding requests for several library automation projects. After the Ministry directed its Computer Service Department (CSD) to study how the various plans could be coordinated, by 1986, the software had been installed, a central office for SILAS had been created, and the National Library was up and running as a test, abandoning the previous SINGMARC format.
[00:28:29] Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC): A specialised search tool and database used to locate books and journals available in libraries.
[00:28:50] NLB eResources: Provides a wide range of electronic resources including ebooks, newspapers, magazines, databases, full-text journal articles and indexes.
[00:29:37] NLB OneSearch: Online search portal that helps you find information across a variety of resources from the National Library Board (NLB)’s libraries and archives databases as well as National Heritage Board (NHB)’s museum repository of artefacts and artworks. It can retrieve a wide range of digital content such as books, magazines, audio-visual materials, eBooks, photographs, films, oral history interviews and maps residing in the NLB’s libraries and archives databases and NHB’s repository.
[00:31:07] A Librarian’s World: A series of monthly talks by librarians where they share highlights of their work from the collections of the National Library.
[00:25:55] Sing Lit Station: Literary non-profit organisation based in Singapore with the core mission of serving the local literary community of writers and readers through creating a space for writers to grow their artistic and professional lives; inviting readers to explore our literary culture; and working with many partners to build inclusive and dynamic communities.
[00:36:40] Asian Children’s Collection: With its inception in the early 1960s, it started at a time when children’s literature was predominantly of British/American origin. The core aim of establishing this collection of works written for children pertaining to Asia and its people was to present the concept and raise the awareness and understanding of Asian-centric children’s literature compared with that of Anglo-Saxon children’s literature.
[00:41:12] Library Association of Singapore: Founded on 25 March 1972, it is the national organisation representing the interests of library and information professionals in Singapore. Membership comprises professional librarians as well as others who are interested in library and information work. LAS provides opportunities for networking, professional advancement and sharing of latest developments through its publications, talks, visits, conferences, training courses and social activities.
[00:44:38] Singapore Writers’ Week: Introduced in 1986, it remained as part of the Singapore Arts Festival until 1990 and was subsequently spun off to become the Singapore Writers’ Festival in 1991.
[00:46:33] NBDCS Book Award: From 1967 to 1997, trophies and token cash awards were given out to winning works. The awards were categorised by genres such as poetry, fiction and children’s books. Awards were given to the 4 official languages.
[00:46:40] Singapore Literature Prize: Launched in 1991 as Singapore’s top literary award, it has opened doors for many emerging writers, bolstered the reputation of publishers and become a staple on the calendar of the local literary community.
[00:46:44] Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award (HABA): Presented biennially to an outstanding children’s book written by a Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident. It has the objective to recognise outstanding published works by Singapore writers and illustrators and to encourage the publication of quality children's books in Singapore.
[00:47:18] A Candle or the Sun: Written by Singaporean writer Gopal Baratham (1935 - 2002). This was his first book, which won the Southeast Write Award in 1991 and was short-listed for the Commonwealth Book Prize in 1992. Baratham is noted to be one of the first Singapore writers to have their work published by an overseas publisher.
[00:47:31] Nanyang Chinese Literature Award: A literary award for Chinese works.
[00:47:34] Anugerah Persuratan: Organised by the Malay Language Council, Singapore (MBMS) since 1993 as a biennial event as a part of the Council’s effort to recognise Malay language writers. Other than recognition of works, the event also aims to develop and encourage writers to produce works in Malay language, encourage publication of high quality works and promote Malay literature in the community.
[00:47:39] Pustaka Nasional: A Malay publisher, that started its operations at 40 Kandahar Street as a bookshop in the 1960s. The company first started publishing books in 1963, producing Malay novels by young writers in Singapore and Malaysia. It also publishes translations of Arabic books into Malay language as a form of spreading knowledge to those who cannot understand Arabic.
[00:47:57] The Straits Times: Launched on July 15, 1845, it is the English flagship daily of SPH Media. It is the most-read newspaper in Singapore with a readership of more than 1.3 million for print and digital combined.
[00:53:34] Translation Scheme: Started in 1978, it sponsors between $2000 and $3000 to books being translated into another language. Hedwig Anuar asserted that "through our sponsorship scheme, we hope to enable publishers of literary and creative works to reach a wider audience. Such translated works will also help local readers to overcome the barriers of language and be able to read good literary works written by authors in another medium of language."
[00:54:03] Ta'ada Jalan Keluar: Malay book about a woman who has been abandoned by her husband and is forced to work as a prostitute to raise her children. When her children grew up and realised the real life of the mother, they left her at the urging of their brother.
[00:54:09] A Man Like Me 《一个像我这样的男人》: Yeng Pway Ngon’s first novel in 1987. Set against the social landscape of Singapore in the 1980s, the novel charts the psychological journey of a man who is caught up in emotional as well as financial problems. It received a National Book Development Council of Singapore Book award in 1988.
[00:54:15] Festival of Books & Book Fair: First book fair in Singapore, held annually starting in 1969, was considered the most important book event at that time. Despite its success, it closed its doors in 1997.
[01:01:41] National Readership Survey: The first nationwide survey on reading habits and interests in Singapore, conducted in 1981 and funded by the National Book Development Council of Singapore.
[01:05:15] Singapore Book World Journal: Publication by the National Book Development Council of Singapore to keep the industry informed on happenings in the book scene. Have since ceased publication.
[01:06:16] Singapore Arts Festival: Started in 1977 as a national arts festival. Check out Backlogues Episode 1 for more information.
[01:07:56] Poetry Festival Singapore: Formerly known as National Poetry Festival, it offers a multilingual, multicultural, multi-generational platform for poets and poetry enthusiasts in the appreciation of the art of poetry in Singapore. Poetry Festival Singapore aims also to develop the written and spoken word in the island’s four official languages and to organise events and activities related to the literary arts.
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[00:01:44] Hedwig Anuar: The first female and first Singaporean director of the National Library of Singapore from 1965 until her retirement in 1988, and the National Book Development Council of Singapore’s Director from 1981 to 1988, where she then continued to serve as an Executive Committee member until 1998. She was also the first local woman to obtain the highest librarianship qualification – Fellowship of the Library Association, London.
[00:23:37] Adrian Tan: Author of the bestselling novels The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook.
[00:47:17] Gopal Baratham: Author of A Candle or the Sun, a political thriller shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize in 1992. In the same year, he rejected the Singapore Literature Prize on the basis of feeling that the council's criteria were different from his. He won the Southeast Asian Write Award in 1991.
[00:47:37] Syed Ali Semait: Director at Pustaka Nasional Pte Ltd since 1986.
[00:54:05] Suratman Markasan: Poet, novelist and respected literary pioneer in Singapore. The numerous awards he has received include: the Southeast Asian Writers (SEA Write) Award (1989); Singapore’s prestigious Cultural Medallion (2010); and the Anugerah Sasterawan Mastera (Southeast Asia Literary Council) Award (2014) conferred by Mastera Brunei.
[00:54:10] Yeng Pway Ngon: A prolific poet, novelist and critic in the Chinese literary scene in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan. He was a recipient of the Singapore Book Award, the Singapore Literature Award (thrice), and the Southeast Asian Writers Award. In 2003, for his contributions to the literary scene, Yeng was awarded the Cultural Medallion for Literature, the highest artistic honour in Singapore. Besides being a writer, Yeng was also a publisher, editor and the owner of Grassroots Bookroom and Vanguard Bookshop.
[01:04:00] Koh Lai Lin: A consultant at the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) where she has interviewed over 170 people from all walks of life for the Oral History Centre. She was formerly a director at the National Library Board who spearheaded reading initiatives including nationwide campaigns such as READ! Singapore and kidsREAD to nurture a nation of readers. The President of The Society for Reading and Literacy (SRL) since 2018, Kiang also founded numerous reading clubs in the community.
[01:06:46] Edwin Thumboo: Poet and academic who is regarded as one of the pioneers of English literature in Singapore. His own collections of poetry include Rib of Earth (1956), Ulysses by the Merlion (1979) and A Third Map (1993). His latest anthology, A Gathering of Themes, was published in 2018, and his collected works, The Best of Edwin Thumboo, was published in 2012. Thumboo won the National Book Development Council of Singapore Book Awards for Poetry three times, in 1978, 1980 and 1994. He also received the inaugural S.E.A. Write Award (1979), the first Cultural Medallion for Literature (1979), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Cultural and Communication Award (Literature) (1987) and the Raja Rao Award (2002). He was conferred a Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star) in 1981 with an additional Bar in 1991, and the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Services Medal) in 2006. He conceived the first National Poetry Festival for Singapore in 2015.
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[00:03:40] Sir Stamford Raffles: Known as the founder of modern Singapore.
[00:03:53] Lee Kong Chian: Also known as Geok Kun, was a philanthropist and multi-millionaire businessman who donated millions of dollars to charitable causes through the Lee Foundation, which he created in 1952. The beneficiaries of the foundation include Nanyang University, the University of Malaya and National Library.
[00:04:04] Stamford Road: Where the old National Library Building was situated.
[00:04:23] University of Malaya: Malaysia's oldest university situated southwest of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Hedwig Anuar graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours).
[00:08:56] Marie Bong: Sister of Hedwig Anuar. Former teacher (1951) and later Principal of Katong Convent from 1971 to 1985.
[00:09:00] Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ): an education project started in France to train underprivileged school children. In February 1854, three sisters led by Rev. Mother Mathilde Raclot arrived in Singapore and set up the first convent at Victoria Street. A total of 11 CHIJ schools were established in Singapore, including CHIJ Secondary, CHIJ Saint Nicholas Girls’ School.
[0010:35] The Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE): Founded in 1985, AWARE is the leading women’s rights and gender equality group in Singapore. AWARE believes in the rights of women and men to make informed and responsible choices about their lives, and to have equal opportunities in education, marriage, and employment, and in the right of women to control their own bodies, particularly with regard to sexual and reproductive rights. Hedwig Anuar was a founding member of AWARE, and came up with the name for the association. At AWARE, she set up the library, helped raised funds and attended to the helpline that offers telephone counselling to women.
[00:11:52] Mass Rapid Transit (MRT): Singapore’s principal mode of public railway transportation. The system commenced operations in November 1987 after two decades of planning.
[00:13:41] Bukit Merah: An area in Singapore where the Bukit Merah Public Library, which was launched in 1982, once operated. It has since moved to VivoCity, where it was renamed library@harbourfront.
[00:15:45] Lee Kuan Yew: Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990.
[00:17:00] Toa Payoh: An area in Singapore where the Toa Payoh Community Library, which opened in 1974, was situated.
[00:17:08] Ang Mo Kio: An area in Singapore where the Ang Mo Kio Community Library, which opened in 1985, was situated.
[00:17:09] Bedok: An area in Singapore where the Bedok Community Library, which opened in 1985, was situated.
[00:17:14] Geylang East: An area in Singapore where the Geylang East Community Library, which opened in 1988, was situated.
[00:17:15] Jurong East: An area in Singapore where the Jurong East Community Library, which opened in 1988, was situated.
[00:20:34] Naval Base School: Public school in Singapore.
[00:20:35] Nee Soon: Area in Singapore where Naval Base Primary School and Naval Base Secondary School are situated.
[00:20:52] Pasir Panjang: Area located at the southern part of Queenstown in Singapore that was visited by the mobile libraries.
[00:20:54] Bukit Panjang: Area located in the western region of Singapore that was visited by the mobile libraries.
[00:20:56] Chong Pang: Housing estate located in the northern region in Singapore that was visited by the mobile libraries.
[00:20:57] Changi: Area located at the eastern region of Singapore that was visited by the mobile libraries.
[00:26:05] National University of Singapore (NUS): Public university in Singapore.
[00:29:27] Bukit Batok: Area in Singapore located along the eastern boundary of the West Region of Singapore.
[00:4!:20] Nanyang Technological University (NTU): Public university in Singapore.
About our Speakers
Charlene Shepherdson is a Singaporean poet and community organiser focused on language in written, performative and visual forms. She is the Station Control (General Manager) of Sing Lit Station.
R Ramachandran was the executive director of the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS). Prior to his appointment at the NBDCS, he was the deputy chief executive of the National Library Board and the director of National Library Singapore. He was the first secretary-general of the Congress of Southeast Asian Librarians, and has served as the secretary and president of the Library Association of Singapore.
Michelle Heng is an English Literary Arts Librarian at the National Library of Singapore. She has co-curated exhibitions on Singapore’s English-language literary pioneers, and edited bibliographies and select publications on their works. In 2016, she helped to handle the Hedwig Anuar donor collection comprising personal documents, ephemera and books.