AUDITORIUMS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES (Use by students for study at examination times)

Mr Low Thia Khiang asked the Minister for Information and the Arts whether he will consider allowing facilities, such as auditoriums at branch libraries, to be used by students who wish to study outside the home, for two months before and during the General Certificate of Education examinations.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Speaker, Sir, facilities in public libraries are for members of the public to consult library materials and for holding library activities and programmes. The libraries organise many outreach programmes like talks, library visits for schools, and workshops for members of the public on a regular basis using the auditoriums in the libraries. If we allow only students to use the auditoriums for study at examination times, the libraries would not be able to hold outreach programmes for members of the public during those months. This would deprive library users of such services. Most community centres provide facilities for students to study. The National Library Board compiles a list of such facilities available near the public libraries and these are given out to students who need a place to study.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Sir, what is the frequency in which such programmes are being planned and held in the auditorium? We are asking that the students be allowed to use the auditoriums for two months before and during the GCE examinations, and not for the whole year.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not have the actual numbers here. But the facilities are intensively used.