Dreaming Big,
Doing Good
2024: A Year in Review
Giving Thanks for a Year of Growth, Innovation & Impact
A/P Natalie Pang
University Librarian
Time really flies when you’re having fun – but the same holds true when you’re busy! I’m sure that my colleagues would agree that even though we’ve had a rollercoaster year of ups and downs, it definitely has been deeply fulfilling.
Looking back, I’m filled with immense pride at the remarkable achievements of our NUS Libraries team. We’ve enriched our offerings for the NUS community by expanding our collections and programmes, had our innovative approaches recognised not only by NUS but also the international community, and extended our reach to serve the wider community.
I’m also very grateful for the many collaborators and partners we’ve had the blessing of working with over the year. We’ve been able to grow our existing partnerships, inaugurate brand new initiatives with academics as well as private and public sector entities. Not only did the NUS community benefit from our continued innovations and refinements in augmenting learning, our initiatives helped give back to our local communities, while deepening youth engagement with Singapore’s heritage.
But perhaps the most significant takeaway I’ve had from this year is just how important our libraries remain for current NUS students. From the huge student response and feedback to trial changes in access policies to our libraries, to their eager embrace of our many programmes – the community has spoken loud and clear: our academic libraries are a fundamental part of the NUS experience.
Amid talk of the decreasing relevance of libraries and librarians globally, this comes as a welcome relief, though I shouldn’t be too surprised at the centrality of our academic libraries in the NUS experience. I’ve had the chance to speak with many diverse alumni hailing from all ages and eras of NUS’ history. Without fail, almost every single person would mention how NUS libraries played a part in anchoring their NUS experience. From intellectual epiphanies, to discovering a community of like-minded peers, NUS Libraries has been a constant feature in helping make these connections between ideas and intellects.
So above all, I am grateful for these reminders, big and small, that NUS Libraries is an essential part of the NUS experience. These affirmations help “close the loop” on our efforts, and fuels our collective passion to continue our work in helping provide research resources, build knowledge networks and develop innovative learning experiences that impact our community and beyond. But much work remains ahead – as the information environment evolves together with digital technologies and resources, academic libraries are at an inflection point in their development, and I look forward to the role that NUS Libraries will play at NUS and beyond.
Advancing Community Learning
Nurturing a New Generation of Heritage Champions
Catalysed by Temasek Foundation and supported by the National Heritage Board, TF-NUS Heritage Champions is a unique initiative that empowers youth from local tertiary institutions to explore and celebrate Singapore’s rich cultural heritage.
“This programme aims to retain our collective sense of shared history and culture, by preserving the histories and memories of our environment and communities, re-presenting them in a new light for future generations to encounter and learn from,” said University Librarian, Associate Professor Natalie Pang, who conceptualised the initiative.
The initiative marked a significant milestone on 9 Nov 2024, with the successful conclusion of its first Ideathon, in which twelve participating groups presented their ideas for a community-based heritage project. The event capped off a seven-week series of workshops and training sessions, led and hosted by NUS Libraries, running the gamut from Digital Scholarship to 360 video and photography, and even applying immersive reality and generative AI to heritage and culture. NUS Libraries also availed its collections for participants’ use, which proved to be an invaluable resource in the preparation of their Ideathon proposals.
Ultimately, five promising project proposals were selected by the Ideathon judges for funding and further development in the first half of 2025. "I'm really amazed at the quality and range of proposals that these groups have come up with in the brief time they've had," said Associate Professor Pang. "It's so heartening to know that youth in Singapore have such a passion for preserving and understanding our heritage, and that they're able to apply their newly-acquired skills to create innovative solutions that will help move the needle for understanding heritage."
TULLIP: Advancing Leadership and Innovation in Southeast Asian University Libraries
This year marked a key milestone with the launch of TULLIP (Transforming University Libraries Leadership & Innovation Programme), a 5-day executive programme designed to equip the regional library community with the skills needed to drive positive change and enhance user experiences in their respective library environments.
The inaugural run welcomed 30 librarians from across Southeast Asia and beyond, convening at NUS to share insights from a comprehensive overview of innovative library services and technologies. Through a combination of evidence-based theoretical learning, hands-on workshops and real-world case studies, we hope to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in their roles and make meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of library and information science.
"It is our vision that TULLIP will become a recognised platform for early career librarians and library professionals to learn, network and partner with their university community to achieve research and education excellence,” said A/Prof Natalie Pang. “For us, this goes beyond just growing the field of academic librarianship. Academic librarians are essential to supporting the advancement of research and academia, as well as student life. We believe that supporting the development of librarians will amplify educational outcomes across the region.”
Empowering Underprivileged Children Through Digital Wellbeing
At NUS Libraries, we believe in extending our expertise beyond academia to create meaningful social impact. In collaboration with CNM Connects and Morning Star Community Services, our librarians hosted an engaging workshop for children from underprivileged families.
Focused on digital wellbeing, the session introduced the children to innovative digital tools like AR and VR technologies. Through fun, interactive, and hands-on activities, the children explored learning through play, fostering curiosity and creativity.
This initiative underscores our commitment to using our resources and expertise to bridge educational gaps and empower the next generation with skills that foster lifelong learning.
Creating a Community Space for Reflection, Connection, and Growth
The true value of a library lies not just in its collections or services, but in how it nurtures and builds communities — communities of learners, researchers, and creators. In close partnership with NUS Graduate School’s Student Life and Wellbeing team, NUS Libraries launched the Collaborative Experiential Space at Central Library Level 4 in AY24/25 Sem 1.
This space is designed to support NUS graduate students and the wider NUS community in their academic, personal and professional journeys. Through a series of activities such as exhibitions and curated books, the space aims to foster an environment that inspires self-discovery, reflection and growth. The students and community can also use this space to build meaningful connections and create support networks to enable them to thrive and flourish during their time at NUS.
Championing Open Research in Singapore
With the growing prominence of Open Science and Open Research, academic libraries are primed and well-positioned to support this movement by creating programmes, resources and initiatives that foster collaboration and openness in research. It was our privilege to lend a hand in support of the Singapore Open Research Conference held on 11 and 12 November 2024 at the National University of Singapore.
Jointly organised by the Singapore Alliance of University Libraries’ Research Services Task Force, which comprises the seven autonomous university libraries in Singapore, the conference brought together over 15 speakers on the theme of “Accelerating the Impact of Open Research”. From illuminating discussions on intellectual property, open research infrastructure, good data practices, to the impact of Open Science, the event championed the spirit of openness and innovation in research. The conference was attended by over 250 participants, with majority from Singapore and the rest from ASEAN and Asia.
As part of the conference, the inaugural Singapore Open Research Awards was also organised to recognise and award researchers in Singapore who have championed open practices to make their research accessible, transparent and reproducible.
Take a look here to learn more about the conference highlights and award winners.
Safeguarding Heritage & Collections for Research
The Extraordinary Life of Yeap Chor Ee Inspiring Generations
The addition of the late philanthropist Yeap Chor Ee’s private papers to our collections is another significant milestone in our mission to preserve our heritage and foster South East Asian scholarship. These invaluable documents offer researchers and students unique insights into Yeap’s extraordinary journey—from his humble beginnings as a barber to becoming Penang’s most prominent businessman and founder of Ban Hin Lee Bank.
More than just a personal archive, the collection offers insights into the broader context of the Chinese diaspora during a transformative period in Southeast Asia’s history. It enriches our understanding of the diverse experiences of diasporic communities and their invaluable contributions to the vibrant cultural landscape of Southeast Asia.
Window into Singapore’s Natural Heritage – The Album of Beisen’s Travel
Imagine strolling through 19th-century Singapore, spotting roaming goats or a steam tram on the streets. These vivid scenes are among the highlights of The Album of Beisen’s Travels (1889), a rare work by renowned Meiji-era artist Kubota Beisen. During his brief visit, Beisen created 12 intricate woodblock prints showcasing Singapore’s unique landscapes, including some of the earliest depictions of a tiger and sawfish.
This rare book inspired 8½ Hours in Singapore, a publication by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM), which reimagines late 19th-century Singapore’s interactions with nature and wildlife. In partnership with LKCNHM, NUS Libraries supported the book's launch, bridging historical narratives with modern perspectives on biodiversity and heritage.
By offering open access to historical treasures such as The Album of Beisen's Travels, we spark scholarship and research that benefits our community, while fostering the creation of new knowledge.
Co-Developing Data and Digital Literacy for NUS' Common Healthcare Curriculum
The Common Healthcare Curriculum was introduced in 2022 to foster inter-professional education and learning among healthcare students from Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing to meet the needs of the evolving healthcare landscape. Having consistently supported the healthcare community through teaching courses on information search and systematic reviews, the Common Healthcare Curriculum Committee called on NUS Libraries to partner them in developing courses on Data and Digital Literacy for Healthcare. This partnership resulted in courses such as SPH1904 Data Literacy for Healthcare and BMI1101 Digital Literacy for Healthcare, which were rolled out in Jan 2024 and Jan 2025 respectively.
Beyond advising and co-creating healthcare curricula, our librarians actively leverage technology and digital resources to enhance students' learning experience, such as self-produced videos for e-learning, as well as activity-based tutorials that replace the more traditional didactic teaching approach.
To date, 870 students from Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing have benefited from these courses, acquiring skills in evaluating information sources and searching using PubMed, AI tools and healthcare databases. This foundational knowledge will stand them in good stead, empowering them to explore a wealth of literature, supporting their continuing research and learning in the healthcare sector.
LOL w NUSOne frfr no cap
NUSOne is a university-wide initiative which aims to foster a holistic and well-rounded university experience for students, enhancing the formal learning curricula with out-of-classroom learning and experiences. With our expertise in developing innovative learning experiences, NUS Libraries was a natural partner for the NUSOne initiative, developing self-paced courses such as THE1004 Learning to Learn, specifically created for first-year students to learn how to become strategic and effective learners both inside and outside of the classroom through the science of learning. Around 1,800 students have already benefited from this course, with many indicating that the course has given them fresh perspectives on learning, and helped them reflect more deeply about their own personal learning processes.
Besides creating e-learning courses, NUS Libraries has been busy rolling out our innovative experiential Leap of Learning (LOL) workshops! Our LOLs provide learners with unique experiences, helping them pick up new skills and knowledge outside the classroom. These sessions have run the gamut from learning how to roll Gimbap (and its cultural and dietary significance), to biodiversity and emerging technologies. Keep your eyes peeled for our next LOL experience - we promise they aren't anything to laugh at 😝
Elevating Learning Experiences
Reinventing Library Spaces at Tech Central
Tech Central, NUS Libraries’ technology-enriched playground, was the sole recipient of the prestigious ALA Presidential Citation for Innovative International Library Projects in 2024. This accolade from the American Library Association acknowledges Tech Central’s contribution to reimagining how libraries support positive change, sustainability and innovation.
The award serves as a validation of how Tech Central empowers the NUS community to explore emerging technologies, create prototypes, and engage in interactive learning. NUS Libraries is the first academic library in Singapore to design and house such a space, featuring a 360imx theatrette which enables the viewing of 360° films and presentations, simulation and visualisation tools, 3D photogrammetry, virtual reality, augmented reality, broadcast-quality audio recording, lightboard and digital scholarship lab.
The ALA Presidential Citation commended NUS Libraries “for creating a space that connects the library, faculty, public sector, and NGOs, providing technology that can be used to support the sciences and humanities, and for building a centre that serves as an example to others around the world.”
Transforming Seat Reservation with Chope@NUS
Study spaces in NUS Libraries are always in high demand, with students attempting to “chope” prime seats in a myriad of creative and occasionally headline-grabbing ways. However, such disruptive practices are detrimental to the NUS community, and go against Library policy. This evergreen issue prompted NUS Libraries, NUSIT, and the uNivUS team to collaborate on a possible solution.
What resulted from the collaboration was Chope@NUS, a convenient online seat booking system launched in May 2024. The effort extended beyond building a robust software platform, with the project team also focused on fostering community norms and shaping campus culture, ensuring student buy-in and adoption.
“While Chope@NUS appears to be a ‘simple’ solution, implementing this entailed more than just getting the software platform up to the mark. We also had to look at securing buy-in from our students, in order to help shape behaviours, community norms and campus culture. So it was really a combination of ‘software’ and ‘heartware’ that made the difference,” said Associate University Librarian Herman Felani Bin Md Yunos, who headed NUS Libraries’ Operations team during the implementation of Chope@NUS.
Chope@NUS was recognised with an honourable mention in the NUS Admin Excellence Awards in 2024, a welcome recognition of our commitment to innovation and user-centric services. Since its implementation, students have reported a better experience with finding seats in the library, making their academic journey more productive and rewarding.
NUS Libraries in Numbers
Knowledge Sharing
22,697
Total Attendees
282
Instructional Sessions
466
Consultations
22
Outreach Sessions
Visitorships
742,195
In-Person Visits
70,233
Library Membership
Collections
3,054,881
Print Books & Journals
100,951
e-Journals & Newspaper Subscriptions
1,411,078
e-Books
962
Academic Databases Subscriptions
Usage
91,476
Loans for Print Resources
6,328,086
Total e-Resource Usage
1,389,826
Searches for e-Resources
Events at a Glance
Researcher Unbound
This year, we organised 78 workshops as part of our flagship Researcher Unbound (RU) programme, which aims to empower early-career researchers to enhance their research capabilities. Leveraging its success, we introduced Researcher Unbound Plus (RU+), an extension designed to go beyond skill-building. RU+ fosters vibrant dialogues and cross-disciplinary collaboration, creating a dynamic space where participants can share insights, engage meaningfully, and spark innovative ideas.
Jumpstart Mini
We conducted 7 Jumpstart Mini workshops, providing participants with introductory skills to explore and experiment with immersive tech tools.
Introduced since 2021, these sessions are a hit with those eager to discover innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
Thank You for Reading
Built with Shorthand