CL + Singapore public library = no luck !!!
During my 1st time there, I intended to open an account.
Librarian : Are you a Singaporean?
CL : No. I'm a Malaysian but I'm currently a student at NTU.
Librarian : Then you have to pay S$57 for your first year of membership as a foreigner.
CL : ......
To be honest, before coming to Singapore, I was so naively equalize England and Singapore. In England, we do not pay to be a member of the public library (note here: public library is not the university library, therefore we, students, are not automatically the member of the public library)
That day, at the end, I still wasn't the member of this public library at my place. First, I wasn't prepared to pay S$$$ for the membership. Secondly, according to the librarian, NTU libraries store up plenty of story books ( hahAHA! you got me here. my aim is never the technical books!), which is quite "innocent" of her because everyone knows that university libraries only have technical books.
After pondered for a week, I decided to generously spend S$57 for a 6 month membership (coz I'll be here for 6 months only). That day started with me rushing to the Jurong Point shopping center to withdraw the money from the ATM machine. However, it again proved that Murphy's law is absolutely correct, "whatever can go wrong will go wrong", my 2 weeks old ATM card was eaten by the machine! !"£$%^
At the end of that day, with no money to pay for the membership, I still wasn't the member of the public library.
My 3rd time there, with a little help from Javier, I went home with 6 fictions in my bag!!! hehehe. A very big thank you to Javier. He came all the way to Jurong West planning to get a N6700 handphone from a promotion at the Singtel Jurong Point. He didn't get the phone he wanted but he did a good deed by using his never-being-used-Singaporean-membership to borrow the books for me. hehehe.
However, I still wasn't the member of the library. If I could get the books for free then why should I pay for it?
My 4th time there, which is this morning. I began the day very enthusiatically planning to do my thesis writing in the cosy public library; not-too-cold air conditioning, not-too-tensed atmosphere with kids around, can sit on the floor if I worked on the Japanese style table (my not-so-civilised habit, prefer sitting on the floor to a chair) etc. But when I was looking for a power socket for my laptop, Jeez! they are locked! Another privilege for member only.
So now instead of working hard on my thesis at the library, I am at home "complaining" about the public library in Singapore.
If you are still in England, hey! use the library there more often.
That day, at the end, I still wasn't the member of this public library at my place. First, I wasn't prepared to pay S$$$ for the membership. Secondly, according to the librarian, NTU libraries store up plenty of story books ( hahAHA! you got me here. my aim is never the technical books!), which is quite "innocent" of her because everyone knows that university libraries only have technical books.
After pondered for a week, I decided to generously spend S$57 for a 6 month membership (coz I'll be here for 6 months only). That day started with me rushing to the Jurong Point shopping center to withdraw the money from the ATM machine. However, it again proved that Murphy's law is absolutely correct, "whatever can go wrong will go wrong", my 2 weeks old ATM card was eaten by the machine! !"£$%^
At the end of that day, with no money to pay for the membership, I still wasn't the member of the public library.
My 3rd time there, with a little help from Javier, I went home with 6 fictions in my bag!!! hehehe. A very big thank you to Javier. He came all the way to Jurong West planning to get a N6700 handphone from a promotion at the Singtel Jurong Point. He didn't get the phone he wanted but he did a good deed by using his never-being-used-Singaporean-membership to borrow the books for me. hehehe.
However, I still wasn't the member of the library. If I could get the books for free then why should I pay for it?
My 4th time there, which is this morning. I began the day very enthusiatically planning to do my thesis writing in the cosy public library; not-too-cold air conditioning, not-too-tensed atmosphere with kids around, can sit on the floor if I worked on the Japanese style table (my not-so-civilised habit, prefer sitting on the floor to a chair) etc. But when I was looking for a power socket for my laptop, Jeez! they are locked! Another privilege for member only.
So now instead of working hard on my thesis at the library, I am at home "complaining" about the public library in Singapore.
If you are still in England, hey! use the library there more often.
My one year and 1 week old niece in Penang
Wan Ching's gal, J-mie
When the two first met in my og house.....
Oh......
