The National Library Board (NLB) has created a new mini-book with Augmented Reality (AR) features that will be available in the coming weeks at the Choa Chu Kang Public Library as part of the nature and sustainability offerings in Green Grove.
The mini book, called “Green Grove: Augmented Reality Books,” has excerpts from six books about Singapore’s plants and animals that are in the NLB’s collection and can be found in public libraries. These are:
- A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Singapore
- Native Orchids of Singapore: Diversity, Identification and Conservation
- A Naturalist’s Guide to the Birds of Singapore
- Temasekia: 50 Plants and Animals Native to Singapore
- Wild Singapore
- Sea Creatures
The image excerpts from the books serve as AR markers that people can scan with NLB’s new AR Books app to see the images come to life in 3D. They can watch dolphins swim, pangolins curl up, kingfishers fly, and more. People may also want to check out the full versions of the books from our public libraries to learn more about the different subjects each book covers.
This is the first mini-AR book by NLB that has been made available online and in public libraries. Patrons can expect to see more content in this new format in the upcoming months as part of NLB’s ongoing efforts to reimagine the libraries and archives under the Libraries and Archives Blueprint 2025 (LAB25) vision of a Learning Marketplace. The next mini-book will include books on famous Singapore locations like Gardens by the Bay and kampongs.
Meanwhile, the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) and the NLB recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). They will work together to inspire and enable the public to learn more about information technology (IT), IT trends and innovations, and their application in everyday life through resources on NLB and SCS physical and digital platforms, programmes and events, and SCS members’ support of NLB’s learning communities.
The collaboration of NLB and SCS will complement the national priority of preparing citizens for a smart nation, as well as NLB’s LAB25 Equaliser role in bridging societal gaps and empowering everyone with digital knowledge and skills.
Furthermore, the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre bestowed the Champions of Good Award on the NLB in recognition of its unwavering corporate giving and partnership initiatives to create an enriching and vibrant learning community for all.
With the goal of developing and enabling meaningful and fruitful reading and learning opportunities for all Singaporeans across the country, NLB has collaborated with partners to provide a diverse range of resources, programmes, and initiatives through our public libraries, archives, and digital platforms.
Among the community programmes and initiatives are:
- The Little Book Box
- kidsREAD
- WondeREAD
- MOLLY the Mobile Library
- My Tree House: World’s First Green Library for Kids at the Central Public Library,
- Green Grove at Choa Chu Kang Public Library
NLB’s nationwide reading programme, kidsREAD aims to encourage a love of reading in four- to eight-year-old children from disadvantaged families.
These initiatives augment the Equalizer role in the NLB’s LAB25 by creating and bringing more learning and advancement opportunities to everyone, including children, seniors, underprivileged communities, and individuals with disabilities.
According to NLB’s Chief Executive Officer, Ng Cher Pong, NLB is honoured to be recognised for their strong community efforts and partnerships, and they would like to express their gratitude to their partners, sponsors, and volunteers who have worked with them over the years. NLB would also like to invite additional organisations and individuals to collaborate with them on LAB25 and create more enriching learning opportunities.
