Apr 2007

Director's Column

Storm in Shuang Lin
Shuang Lin Monastery was once used as a training ground for people who volunteered their services at the Burma Road, which served as a supply route during the Sino-Japanese War in the 1930s. The monastery had a great impact on the lives of two men: Wu Hui Min, volunteer for the war effort, and Venerable Pu Liang, the abbot of the monastery. (PDF)

Educating Malayan Gentlemen
The early part of the 20th century saw a conservative shift towards the teaching of English to native subjects. This was contrary to the 19th century when the teaching of English was seen as an imperative civilising force – a tool for the enlightenment of the savage barbarians that the British ruled over in their colonies. (PDF)

சிங்கப்பூர்த் தமிழர்களின் கலாச்சாரத்தில் விழாக்கள்
Highlights important Indian festivals celebrated in Singapore. These include family festivals and social festivals. The former comprises housewarming events and weddings, while social festivals refer to Deepavali, Pongal and Thaipusam. (PDF)

Money-lending: A Short History
Singapore is today a well-developed financial centre with many banks and other financial institutions offering a suite of banking products and services. But it was a completely different scene during the colonial era. (PDF)

Digital Archiving: Storing for the Future
Tony MeSean, Director of Ubrary Relations of publishing giant Elsevier, shares his thoughts and experience on the future of digital archiving at an Executive Management Programme in February 2007.(PDF)

News
A conference on the future of libraries and librarians; a collaboration and networking session with the School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University; “Aksara: The Passage of Malay Scripts” exhibition; and the memorandum of understanding signed between the National Library Board and the Asian Film Archive. (PDF)