My Tree House, World's 1st Green Library for Kids

A National Library Board and City Developments Limited Collaboration

The National Library Board (NLB) and City Developments Limited (CDL) unveiled plans to develop the World's 1^st Green Library for Kids named as “My Tree House”. This library development is a synergistic partnership between NLB and CDL. “My Tree House” is steered by green principles in all facets from design, infrastructure and use of sustainable materials, to collection and programming.

Attributes of “My Tree House”

“My Tree House” is a unique green library purposefully conceptualised, constructed and operated with environmental sustainability in mind. CDL will provide green expertise from its vast experience of developing eco-friendly properties and integrate comprehensive sustainable practices to create a green prototype library for kids. The eco-directive set for this innovative first-of-its-kind project will ensure that every detail from the holistic conceptual design and infrastructure, materials used in the construction, incorporation of innovative key features, are not only sustainable but proactively reinforce the overall green concept.

CDL has brought together other like-minded corporations, who are leading green players in their own fields, to lend their expertise and support in this groundbreaking initiative. These partners include ADDP Architects LLP – the design consultant led by Mr Tang Kok Thye, recently awarded Green Architect of the Year 2012 by Building and Construction Authority (BCA); Interface – the world's largest manufacturer of sustainable carpet tiles which will provide the carpeting for this library; and Royal Philips Electronics – a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, which will be the lighting consultant and supplier of energy-efficient lighting solutions and fittings for “My Tree House”.

The library has been designed to create an enchanted forest ambience with fun spaces for hands-on learning and reflections. “My Tree House” takes its name aptly after the centrepiece which is a tree house structure constructed with recyclable materials. It will evoke the feeling of a special place for children as featured in story books.  

Targeted for completion in mid-2013, the library will be home to 70,000 books. About 30% of these books will focus on green topics such as animals, plants, nature, water resources, environment and climate change. NLB plans to work with other public agencies such as the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, National Climate Change Secretariat, National Environment Agency, National Parks Board and PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency in developing the library's collection and on using the library for environmental education and outreach. A wide range of tailored activities like games, storytelling and craft-making to spur interest in children ages 4 to 12 are being planned. NLB is also gathering feedback and suggestions to customise the experience for child visitors. Members of the public can provide suggestions through email or forms at the library.

Mrs Elaine Ng, Chief Executive Officer of NLB said, “We are breaking new ground in public, private and people sector collaboration in library development. Together with City Developments Limited and its partners, we are creating a special library that will encourage children to explore, discover and challenge their curiosity in learning and caring for the environment. 'My Tree House' will help to nurture children to grow up to be environmentally-conscious adults.”

Ms Esther An, CDL's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and General Manager (Corporate Affairs) added, “CDL has been championing the development of green buildings in Singapore for over a decade. Pioneering this children's library with NLB is the perfect amalgamation of CDL's green building expertise, commitment to greening private and public spaces, and most importantly, raising eco-awareness amongst the young for the benefit of our community and the environment. This is in line with our long-standing commitment to youth development and promoting sustainable development.”

This green library will be appropriately housed at the Central Public Library located within the National Library Building. This building first received the Green Mark Platinum Award in April 2005 and subsequently in March 2009. This is the highest honour for green buildings in Singapore bestowed by the BCA. In July 2007, it also won the first prize in the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Awards under the “New and Existing Building” category. In May 2007, the Building was given the Silver Award in the Universal Design Award from BCA, for its wide spaces, good lighting, accessibility and clarity in wayfinding.

More news at: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/Corporate.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=PRHandler_1&PRHandler_1_actionOverride=%2FIBMS%2FcorpHomePR%2FcorpPRHandler%2Fdetail&PRHandler_1detailId=613&PRHandler_1mediaType=1&_pageLabel=Corporate_page_ne_pressreleases

A children’s library for the blind

CHENNAI: Their excitement was palpable as they were handed a copy of 'The Hungry Caterpillar.' A Shaktivel of Class 6 eagerly ran his nimble fingers over the protruding Braille script on the leaves of the pages, mouthing the words, while his friend G Pradeep kept feeling the rough texture of a cloth caterpillar stitched across the page. S Shyam Kumar kept inserting his fingers wherever he could to get a feel of the pages.

The three St Louis School for Blind and Deaf in Adyar students, along with a few others from their school and from the Little Flower Convent Higher Secondary School for the Blind, were among 10 students gathered at Hippocampus Children's Centre in Adyar on Friday for the inauguration of a special section for the visually challenged. Possibly the first of its kind, the section provides easy accessibility for visually challenged children to story books in Braille, audio books and tactile toys.

"We do have story books at school, but I haven't really read any that have pictures that can be felt," said Shaktivel as he ran his fingers over an embellishment of a tortoise. "My favourites, however, are always those involving a mouse or a fox. Mice are so mischievous and foxes are cunning. Super-aa Irukkom (it will be super)."

A joint initiative of the Karadi Cultural Alliance Trust (KCAT) and Sir Ratan Tata Trust fund, the Creative Resource Centre (CRC) contains more than 100 Braille titles. The books are by popular children's book houses such as Karadi Tales, Scholastic, Tulika, Mango Books, Ekalavya Publishers and Tara. "We were looking for a space that would be easily accessible to both differently abled as well as regular children," said Shoba Vishwanath, a founder-trustee of KCAT. 

MORE NEWS AT: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-04/news/33034643_1_audio-books-braille-script-story-books

This summer, libraries get children hooked to reading

CHENNAI: On the glass wall of theHippocampus library in Adyar is a tree that seems to be growing almost every day, leaf by leaf. Called the reading tree, the paper cutout is the library's attempt to get children interested in reading. 

"If a child wants to recommend a book, he or she writes down the book title along with their name on a leaf and stick it on the wall, adding to the reading tree," says Chandni Khanna, director, Hippocampus Children's Co. 

The library also has plans to organise 'book picnics', where families will be brought in to "feast on books that are age-appropriate". "We are trying to get children interested in reading, especially now that summer vacations are here and it is too hot to go out during the day," says Khanna. 

And summer's not the only reason to get hooked to reading. With libraries popping up across the city, many of them online, borrowing of books has become hassle-free. "It's simple - you log in, become a member, pay your one-time fee and order books, which are delivered at your doorstep," says Amrutash Misra, of iloveread.in, an online library. Memberships are also quite cheap with a few libraries charging as little as Rs 100 a month. 

"When books are delivered home, there is no need to postpone reading," says Raji Divakar of bookandborrow.com, whose library has come up with special offers for children in the summer break. "It is helpful for children and older people who may not be able to get around on their own and for working people who may not find time to head to the library," she says. 

Vinay Grandhi, who runs the Just Books lending library in Indira Nagar says the trick is to make the system simple enough for a child to use. "Just Books runs on a franchise model and there are 58 across the country where you can swipe your card and borrow books," says Grandhi. The library functions almost like an ATM and members can place their card and books on a specially designed kiosk which reads the data and updates the system. 

This summer, on almost every Saturday, S Supraja, who runs an organisation called 'The Winners', is organising reading workshops. "Schools tend to focus on academic books and so summer vacations are a good time to get children to enjoy reading," says Supraja. "But reading is also about exploring the child's interests and we use these workshops and connect with the parents on what their child wants to read," she adds.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/This-summer-libraries-get-children-hooked-to-reading/articleshow/12928788.cms

Pune's library by kids, for kids (Daily Bhaskar)

Pune: In the neighbourhood of the teenage suspects who had kidnapped and brutally murdered Shubham Shirke in Dighi on March 31, resides seven-year-old Mahi Milind Shinde who every parent and citizens should be proud of. 

This shining star of Alandi Road has started the Sparkle Club Library with 16 children from the area. Realising the dearth of a library in the vicinity, she launched the club on April 1 after planning for two months with her brother Gautam (11). Later, Ananya (7), her cousin, also joined them.

The club members comprising a four-year-old, the youngest member, and the eldest being 10 years old meet at the balcony of Mahi’s house at Ram Housing Society from 4 pm to 8 pm every day. They spend four hours reading books like the biography of Mother Teresa, children encyclopaedia and fairy tales.  Mahi teaches them skits and storytelling, while Gautam hones their stage puppet show skills.

To become a club member, one has to fill a form giving details like name, address, age, phone number along with parents’ consent. The membership fee is Rs 50 per month. 

Her supportive parents — father Milind, a manager with Kalyani Car Painting Special Steel at Mundhwa and mother Gautami, an interior designer — have lent her around 200 books for the library.

“I was craving to start a club for the past two months. One day, I woke up at 1 am and walked into my parents’ bedroom weeping. My parents suggested that I can use the balcony of our house for the purpose. Then I talked to the children in the neighbourhood. Eight-year-old Shruti Pitalelu became the first member and once we started having fun, other children too wanted to join,” Mahi said.

Gautami said, “Mahi has leadership qualities. That is why her club could get so many members in 10 days. We never thought that she would be able to do it so well.”
Adam Konoth (7) who became a member after coming to know about the club while visiting his grandmother, said, “My grandma used to tell me stories. Now I tell her stories.”

Source: http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-punes-library-by-kids-for-kids-3106260.html