IFLA ENSULIB Webinar Series #12: Sustainability - Bringing Nature and Communities into the Libraries

This presentation explores Singapore libraries’ approaches to sustainability in the planning and designing of library spaces and experiences; and how the three key principles: Sustainability, Inclusiveness and Technology bring about nature and social connectedness in the design of NLB’s three latest libraries (Choa Chu Kang Library, Punggol Library and Central Library) in Singapore’s public library network.

1. IFLA/ENSULIB WEBINAR SERIES PRESENTS Sustainability – Bringing Nature and Communities into the Libraries Brought to you by ENSULIB, IFLA‘s Environment, Sustainability and Libraries Section Thursday, 25 April, 2024 5pm SGT / 11 am CET

2. About the Webinar Series Priscilla Pun Secretary , ENSULIB Section of IFLA; Head of Technical Process Unit, University of Macau Library, Macao, China. E-mail :   [email protected]

3. Privacy This event is being recorded, including chat. ​ The video will be posted on YouTube and the video link will be posted on ENSULIB’s webpage and on social media . ​ Microphones have been muted for this event. ​ Comments: Please type into the chat Q&A: The Q&A session will follow the presentation. Please type questions into the Q&A box. The talk is GDPR-compliant ​ IFLA and ZOOM privacy policies: ​ https://www.ifla.org/data-protection-policy ​ https://zoom.us/privacy Questions regarding privacy [email protected]

4. Session Introduction Antonia Mocatta Information Coordinator , ENSULIB Section of IFLA; Director of Central Services, University of Sydney Library, Sydney, Australia . E-mail :   [email protected]

5. Speaker Li Sa Lim Deputy Director of Planning & Development, National Library Board Singapore , E-mail : [email protected]

6. Sustainability – bringing Nature and Communities into libraries Lim Li Sa, Deputy Director Planning & Development

7. An invitation to partners and the community to collaborate with NLB in a journey of innovation and experimentation to  Reimagine Singapore’s libraries and archives 7 Restricted Restricted

8. NLB's Interventions 1 In response to socio-economic drivers and disruptors 2 4 3 Four Key Roles under LAB25

9. Public Library STRATEGIC Principles Fundamental Principles Sustainability. Inclusiveness. Technology Adoption These are the three new value directions that govern the entire design matrix: Biophilic Design – the design principles are generally organised into three categories: nature in the space, nature of the space, and natural analogues. Inclusive Design – the design principles describe methodologies to create spaces and services that understand and enable people of all backgrounds and abilities. To integrate advanced service design, with proactive technology adoption to benefit the different audiences. From Transactions to Experiences Amid evolving economic, social, and technological landscapes, our customers' behaviors and expectations will continue to change. Discover. Learn. Read. It’s about connecting and sense-making (empowerment and one’s role in society). Every library should have a Core Identity What is the Hook? What is the fundamental product that we want our patron to experience?

10. Designing Experience As experiences have become more dynamic and interconnected, it is crucial to consider patrons’ interactions with NLB as part of a broader end-to-end journey, rather than in isolation. By focusing on the customer journey, we can better understand patrons’ needs and identify opportunities to enhance their experiences through improved interactions at one service point to another. Some of NLB’s channels: NLB Website NLB Mobile App Catalogue Book borrowing stations Physical library spaces Reservation Lockers Social Media

11. Design Process The design process is an iterative journey of Research & Analysis, User Engagement, and Experience & Service Conceptualization. By constantly updating ourselves with pertinent data and user needs, this process helps us design library experiences that are not only dynamic but relevant to our patrons.

12. Research & Analysis Tapping onto existing pools of data can help uncover a wealth of insights that provide context and alternative perspectives. The research process is made up of the following components: Community Analysis Environmental Scan Data Triangulation

13. USER Engagement User engagement plays a quintessential role throughout in our process of development. Effectively engaging users (staff and patrons) not only ensures that the strategic decisions are made with the user needs in mind but also encourages greater collaboration and ownership of the space. Examples of User Engagement include: User Surveys Staff Brainstorming Sessions Back-of-House ( BoH ) Prototyping Activity

14. Experience & Service Conceptualization Findings from the research and engagement process come together to continuously refine an experience that will be attractive and meaningful to our patrons. The eventual service concept serves as a guiding direction for the ongoing library development process; where experiences, programmes and offerings are designed and centred around it.

15. (Re)Connect with Nature at Choa Chu Kang Public Library Sought to create an interactive space that nurture learning, discovery and sharing of Choa Chu Kang’s rich agriculture, biodiversity heritage and sustainable living. IFLA Green Library Award 2022 Inclusive Space for everyone at Punggol Regional Library NLB’s first inclusive public library , serving Persons with Disabilities ( PwDs ), aimed to address the limited accessibility of public spaces for PwDs . Enabling Mark (Platinum) 2023 Award Universal Design Excellence Award 2023 All Things Singapore at Central Public Library Derives identity from “central” branding & location, rather than immediate community characteristics. Children’s Biodiversity Library by S.E.A Aquarium Libraries’ themes and sustainability focus

16. Biophilic design One of the fundamental principles in our design matrix is Biophilic Design. Thus, a deliberate choice is made to integrate nature into the library spaces, blurring the line between the indoors and outdoors. The first Indoor Garden in Singapore’s Public Libraries, forms the core of the space, with seating, shelving and programming areas planned around the Indoor Garden to create a seamless spatial experience. Indoor Garden at Choa Chu Kang Public Library The Children Zone has placed a greater focus on being fun, safe and family-centric, with design elements referencing to the farming heritage and community gardening culture. The Story Circle is the designated storytelling area designed to be an open space and to cater for interactivity. Children Zone and Story Circle Green Heart area at Central Public Library The Green Heart within the circulation path creates a serene atmosphere amidst the surrounding activities.

17. Biophilic Design Adjacent to the new Children’s Biodiversity Library, the Courtyard will grow mangrove saplings to be transplanted to Sentosa’s mangroves with opportunities for children to take part in this process. Memories Corner at Central Public Library The Memories Corner will come alive in the evening where patrons can enjoy an immersive multimedia showcase by award-winning artist Brian Gothong Tan, titled The Library of Memory , screened on the 5,000 red bricks retained from the old National Library at Stamford Road. Two enclosed outdoor spaces at the Central Public Library were repurposed into usable spaces for programming or simply for patrons to relax. These spaces are examples where we blurred the lines between the indoors and the outdoors. The Programme Zone is just next to the Community Garden of the Punggol One Hub. Apart from being surrounded by the serenity of the greenery, it allows the library to extend the programming space into the garden. Courtyard at Central Public Library P rogramme Zone at Punggol Regional Library

18. Biophilic design Another design feature involves integrating natural lighting to create a cozy and warm ambience. The Sunken reading area is located at the Older Children and Teens’ Zone and overlooks a long stretch of windows that allows natural light into the space. It is designed to provide a cozy ambience for children and teens to hang out in. Reading Zones with study tables and individual seating are arranged along the windows to provide a scenic view, while allowing conducive, solitary and quiet reading spaces. Sunken reading area at Choa Chu Kang Public Library Choa Chu Kang Public Library © National Library Board Singapore Punggol Regional Library Central Public Library

19. Sustainable materials To align with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a national movement for sustainable development, NLB has actively incorporated sustainable materials for interior works and install energy efficiency products. Vinyl/Carpet Floor Tiles – made of bio-based or recycled content that greatly reduces carbon footprint during manufacturing; ISO 140001 certified in Environmental Management System; or certified with Singapore Green Building Product (SGBP) certificate. Paint Finishing - low volatile organic compound (VOC) painting, adhesive and sealants. Partition wall and ceiling - Gypsum boards made of 100% recycled content and SGBP certified. Furniture – Furniture Fabric – plant-based product for furniture fabrics and with biodegradable packaging Upcycled or reused existing bookshelves, plastic chairs Highly efficient fittings ( taps, sensor taps, flush valve ) Variable Voltage Variable Frequency (VVVF) Lifts and Escalators –draw less current and activate only if there are passengers High performance façade glass panels reduce heat transmission Highly efficient air-conditioning system and energy-saving LED lights

20. Reconnect with the environment NLB continues to create awareness, inspire and engage the communities in appreciation for the natural environment, and social responsibility that we should adopt in our daily lives ​. Combination of design and technology to provide an immersive, multi-sensory reading and learning experience through its unique installations ​. Green Grove at Choa Chu Kang Public Library is a curated corner that cultivates environmental awareness and literacy by showing the intricate links between humans and their local environments. It features a Hydroponic Showcase, Live-Statistic Display, AR Interactives and Climate-Action Corner. Green Grove Hydroponics Showcase Live-Statistics Display © National Library Board Singapore

21. Reconnect with the environment The Nature Walls act as visual guide, leading customers into the different spaces while maintaining visibility between different spatial zones. It also displays curated imageries of flora and fauna extracted from an array of natural history books, botanical prints and plantation photographs from the National Library’s extensive collection and Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris.

22. Reconnect with the environment Children’s Biodiversity Library by S.E.A. Aquarium at Central Public Library Coral Column Showcase of S.E.A. Aquarium artefacts Digital aquarium-related content The first marine biodiversity-themed learning space for children by S.E.A Aquarium at a public library in Singapore. It includes features such as a floor-to-ceiling column with coral-like features, S.E.A. Aquarium’s collection of specimens including shark jaws and coral skeletons, digital aquarium-related content, an outdoor mangrove showcase, and The Submarine, a room for educational programmes .

23. Reconnect with the environment Submarine Room (Programming Space) Outdoor mangrove showcase Mangrove showcase in the children’s library outdoor space, where mangrove saplings will be grown until they are ready to be transplanted to various locations in Singapore. The transplanting of the grown saplings will be a programme that educates children on mangroves in Singapore.

24. Reconnect with our heritage and Culture The interior design of Central Public Library adopted the Singapore vernacular architecture design elements which reflects the theme “Singapore Kaleidoscope”.

25. Reconnect with our heritage and culture The stories of Singapore (past and present) are told through Singapore-themed murals . We commissioned adapted artworks from local artists and collaborated with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts ( NAFA) to produce the artworks as part of the students’ coursework. Adapted In Our Time by Singaporean illustrator Lee Xin Li Flight of Fantasy and Court of No Worries by Singaporean artist Lee Kow Fong (aka Ah Guo) Murals by NAFA students

26. Reconnect with our heritage and culture A digital exhibition telling Singapore Stories. “ Lepak Landscapes: Life and Leisure in Singapore” is the first edition exploring iconic leisure scenes and their rich histories through digital storybooks, artefact displays, and interactive elements. Enriched by historical and literary materials from the National Library and National Archives of Singapore, it offers a comprehensive and engaging perspective on leisure in Singapore, inviting visitors to explore and connect with our vibrant culture.   Patrons can interact with the content in various zones through a personalised QR. There is a personality quiz for patrons to discover what kind of lepaker they are (how they spend their free time), and to take away a list of recommended books based on their lepak personality. The Singapore Alcove blurs the lines between the exhibition and the Singapore collection, which allows patrons to browse/borrow the collection and see Singapore through the eyes of literature at the exhibition .

27. Reconnect with our heritage and culture The Punggol Stories at Punggol Regional Library comprises memories gathered from the National Archives Singapore’s oral history collection, the Singapore Memory Project ( Punggol: Remembering the Past, Inspiring the Future, courtesy of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)), and corporate and individual contributors. The Punggol Stories also includes heritage items from NLB’s collections, complemented by Singapore Literature and Non-Fiction collection. The Memories Corner at Central Public Library features a multimedia showcase of the old National Library stories, projected on the 5,000 red bricks retained from the old National Library at Stamford Road.

28. Reconnect with our heritage and culture Libraries present hyperlocal history, heritage and culture through Community Walls. The Community Wall at Choa Chu Kang Public Library features both historical and modern-day sections with elements unique to the Choa Chu Kang, from its agricultural heritage to a transformation to agrotechnology and new generation farms today. The Heritage section features interactive heritage elements, captures the story across four different time periods of Choa Chu Kang. The Community section allows customers to contribute their own memories, experiences, and thoughts on the wall, with the aim of fostering kampung spirit. An Augmented Reality (AR) learning trail and AR books on wildlife and natural landscapes were developed in collaboration with Nanyang Technological University Singapore and sponsored by CapitaLand Hope Foundation. Community contribution (Community section) Community Wall (Heritage section)

29. Reconnect with our heritage and culture The Community Wall at Punggol Regional Library is located near the entrance. The community wall features the stories of Punggol and its communities through tactile and digital formats, highlighting interesting aspects and local community projects. The Wall facing outward showed a supergraphic map of Punggol featuring the landmarks, services and facilities of the neighbourhood . NLB collaborated with the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), the Singapore Birds Project, and the Nature Photographic Society, Singapore (NPSS) to curate content about wildlife and natural landscapes in Punggol.

30. inclusive design The Punggol Library, a five-storey building situated within a community hub, was designed with inclusivity in mind. The project team worked closely with the architect ensuring a barrier-free journey from the hub to the library and creating integrated library spaces for Persons with Disabilities ( PwDs ) and the public. The design, guided by Universal Design Principles, enables everyone to read, learn, and discover within the same environment. For example, the Toy Library was designed to cater for children and those with special needs, and the Family Lounge is open for all. The Library aims to address the limited accessibility of public spaces for PwDs and is the first public library in the network to incorporate PwD -centric infrastructure, facilities, and services. The planning of space usage, furniture and fitouts, signage and wayfinding, lighting, special rooms and corners, assistive aids, and the use of technology to facilitate the borrowing of library materials underwent extensive consultation with the PwDs , the professionals and caregivers. The NLB is the first government agency in Singapore to achieve SG Enable’s Enabling Mark (Platinum) accreditation in 2023 , with PRL being the key differentiating factor. One Punggol (the hub where the library is located) has won the Universal Design Excellence Award 2023 by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) citing PRL’s inclusive and universal design.

31. inclusive design In library space planning, it is crucial to create a welcoming experience for everyone. This begins at the entrance, where there is ample space for individuals in wheelchairs and parents with strollers to navigate, as well as a service touchpoint for the visually impaired . Given the need for additional space at Punggol Regional library, it is even more crucial to optimize the space planning. A minimum clear floor space for the wheelchair to turn. At a dead-end corridor for the wheelchair to turn 180 degrees and return in the other direction. Clear floor space and 1800mm (W) between furnishings (BCA code states no less than 900mm x 1200mm. A ramp was designed to connect between level 1 and level 2 where the children’s collections and services are located to facilitate the movement of families with strollers. It also facilitates the movement of wheelchair users between the 2 floors.

32. Inclusive design In addition to meeting the fundamental requirements, we provided Calm Pods and adult changing tables for those with special needs. Special attention was given to the design of the space’s lighting and the volume of announcement system, as intense light and sound could trigger individuals who are more sensitive. A private and safe space for PwDs to calm down if they are feeling overwhelmed. Each calm pod is equipped with an occupancy indicator system that guides patrons to the nearest available pods. Adult changing tables are provided in the accessible toilets to meet the needs of PwDs . Family Lounge offers a space for families with young children/ PwDs to have quick meals or snacks.

33. Inclusive DESIGN Adapted a “borrow-n-go” model to allow wheelchair users to simply pass through a dedicated passageway with books they wish to borrow. The borrowing station is also placed near the accessible collection area to facilitate borrowing. The catalogue and multimedia stations are equipped with assistive devices such as coloured keyboards with larger keys, UX-friendly and height-adjustable interfaces for seniors, individuals with visual impairment or in wheelchairs. Accessible Collection Assistive Technology and Devices Borrow-n-Go

34. Reconnect with the society Students from the MINDS Fernvale Gardens School visit Punggol Regional Library weekly to help maintain the Toy Library. Café operator ( Artease ) employs PwDs as full-time staff and provides internships. PwDs are recruited by our outsourced vendor to assist in the shelving of books. Punggol Regional Library has collaborated with ART:DIS to showcase and offer artworks created by PwDs for sale.

35. Q&A Session Facilitators Please type your questions in the Q&A chat box. Antonia Mocatta Director of Central Services, University of Sydney Library . Email:   [email protected] Priscilla Pun Head of Technical Process University of Macau Library Email:  [email protected]

36. Thank you for joining