Wheelchair Users Take Up The Challenge To Try Out Two Public Libraries

Media release from the National Library Board, Singapore (date 6 Dec 2008):

Wheelchair Users Take Up The Challenge To Try Out
Two Public Libraries

Singapore, 6 December 2008 – A total of 50 wheelchair users visited the Woodlands Regional Library and the newly re-opened Yishun Public Library to participate in the Amazing Wheelchair Challenge this morning. Together with their caregiver, each participant was issued the challenge to complete 18 tasks largely related to locating library resources and using library services within a timeframe of 90 minutes. Ms Ellen Lee, Member of Parliament for Sembawang GRC, graced the event and flagged off the Challenge for the participants at Woodlands Regional Library.

The series of tasks was planned by a group of librarians, one of whom is Mr Kwek Soon Huat, a wheelchair user who has been working with the National Library Board (NLB) for 18 years.

Held in support of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebrated on 3 Dec, the objective of the Amazing Wheelchair Challenge was to highlight that the Public Libraries are spaces for everyone, including wheelchair users.

Reaching out to the underserved with Library 2010 Vision
Guided by the two main thrusts of the Library 2010 vision – ‘Libraries for Life, Knowledge for Success’, one of the outcomes that NLB aims to achieve is to create a self-sustaining community, including those that are underserved. The Amazing Wheelchair Challenge was one of NLB’s several initiatives organised to encourage community learning and social integration among wheelchair users in Singapore.

Dr N Varaprasad, Chief Executive, National Library Board (NLB) said, “Our Public Libraries aim to create a self-sustaining community where everyone has access to our libraries’ resources to embark on knowledge sharing. Today’s event is to create awareness that wheelchair users are welcome into our libraries where not only are there knowledge found in books but also library activities and programmes to help fulfill diverse aspirations.”

The Amazing Wheelchair Challenge was well supported by many community partner organisations such as the North West Community Development Council (NWCDC), Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), Handicaps Welfare Association (HWA), Muscular Dystrophy Association Singapore (MDAS), Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), and Rotary Club of Singapore just to name a few.

Ms Sherena Loh, Senior Manager of MDAS shared, “It is a wonderful initiative of NLB to organise this meaningful event that encourages people on wheelchair to be integrated into the community. Although libraries are usually centrally located islandwide, there are still many people with disabilities who have not visited the libraries. We hope this experience will create the breakthrough and encourage more to come out to participate alongside in the community”.

All wheelchair users who participated in the event were offered a free Membership for People with Disabilities. This special membership allows borrowing privileges of up to eight items including four audiovisual materials, and even audio books which are available at all libraries, except libraries situated within shopping malls, since June 2007.