The NLB cultivates knowledge and learning by supporting reading and history through its 25 public libraries, National Archives and the National Library. Its innovative ways of engaging citizens through the digital platform has created better access to learning resources. To initiate early reading habits, NLB is focussing on kids of all ages. By organising storytelling for toddlers, Singapore aims at introducing learning habits quite early.
NLB’s ‘Storytelling for Toddlers Singapore’ programme is aimed at fostering early literacy skills in young children. Photo: iStock
With Storytelling for Toddlers, Singapore Wants Better Readers
Online Storytelling for Kids
The programmes and workshops encourage parents to bring very young kids to the library. Photo: iStock
NLB is offering weekly storytelling sessions in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil for kids up to the age of 10.
| Language |
Frequency |
Topics and Age Range |
| English |
Monday to Friday
at 6:30pm. |
Stories suitable for children
aged 4 to 10 |
| Chinese |
Every Monday and Friday at
7.30pm |
Stories suitable for children
aged 4 to 8 |
| Malay |
Every Tuesday (8pm) and
Saturday (11.30am) |
Stories suitable for children
aged 4 to 8 |
| Tamil |
Every Monday, Wednesday and
Friday at 7pm |
Stories suitable for children
aged 4 to 8 |
The sessions will be around 5 to 15 minutes long and will be hosted by librarians, volunteers and local authors.
These storytelling sessions are pre-recorded and available on the respective Facebook pages. This will go on beyond the circuit breaker period and we will review the frequency of the online storytelling sessions after the libraries reopen.
Storytelling For Toddlers and Older Kids: What Does NLB Offer During The Circuit Breaker Period?
NLB has arranged for some of their services to be available online. Photo: iStock
Utilising technology to keep providing their services to the public despite closing down its spaces physically, Singaporeans can make use of the following online services made available to them by the NLB during this period:
- NLB mobile app
The new QRcode login set to be implemented by the end of April will make login easy without having to type in IDs and passwords.
The HyRead mobile app has more than 1000 Chinese eBooks, comics and magazines to read from.
The Libby app has a new ‘Skip the line’ initiative to read and return eBooks within 7 days instead of the usual 21 days. This makes eBook circulation faster.
The ebooks available online are just a click away and range from evergreen classics to popular teen-fiction, thereby appealing to all ages and interests.
- NLB on Facebook
Librarians, authors, and volunteers have arranged for online storytelling sessions for toddlers in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, to be posted regularly online. These pre-recorded sessions are posted on their Facebook page.
Further talks, programmes and various online reading clubs have also been organised for Singaporeans of all ages in all 4 languages, in order to enable the public to connect and socialise over reading.
