NATIONAL LIBRARY (AMENDMENT) BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.35 p.m.

The Minister for Culture (Mr Jek Yeun Thong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

This Bill seeks to broaden the scope of library material so as to include not only books but also audio-visual and primary sources material. The National Library collection will henceforth be considerably expanded with the new sources of library material. Thus the total collection will better reflect the Republic's creative output and heritage.

In discharging its responsibilities on the national level, the National Library of the Republic will concentrate its efforts in planning for all types of library services so as to give every citizen an opportunity to read and to ensure that the nation's entire creative output will be recorded and preserved for future generations.

The National Library will also provide up-to-date information for research workers and business, industrial and other sectors.

On an international level, the National Library will play an important role by facilitating library loans to and from other nations and the exchange of library material with other countries.

There is also provision in the Bill for the National Library Board to make recommendations for the training of library staff. The general object of this Bill is therefore to ensure that the National Library will give better services to the people of Singapore.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Jek Yeun Thong].

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.