Remembering September

What?
In rememberance of Sept 11, the Adult & Young People's Services (PLS) is pleased to collaborate with Sugar Grove Public Library (Chicago, Illinois) for a 'live' chat based on the theme of how much do we understand each other.

Join in on Youth Conversations with people between 13 to 35 years of age from Sugar Grove Public Library in the US, and Jurong Regional & Tampines Regional libraries in Singapore. Using Internet technology, we will bridge time-zone differences to address a new question every few days prior to Sept 11.

When?
1) Join our 'live' chat via Instant Messenging, on *Sunday Sept 11, 2 pm, Singapore time* *Sunday Sept 11, 1 am, Chicago USA time*

How?
Login to one of the following (depending on whether you have MSN or Yahoo! IM):* jrl_chat_msn (MSN IM name)* trl_chat_msn (MSN IM name)* jrl_chat (Yahoo! IM name)* tampines_chaty (Yahoo! IM name)

What if you can't make it for the chat session?
If you can't make it for the chat sessions, you can still join the blog discussions at Sugar Grove Youth blog

Main discussion points:
#1: Language: Singlish Vs English, Spanglish Vs English
#2: Culture: How do we achieve harmony among people of different ethnic groups? How are the United States and Singapore alike? How are the United States and Singapore different?
#3: Lifestyle: What do you eat everyday? What do you "eat" mentally? (your food for thought)The Burger Culture Vs the Rice/ Noodle culture. How much Western influence is in Singapore food culture? How much Asian influence is in US food culture?
#4: Continue the Statement: "Why do People..."

Please keep in mind that the ideas and observations shared will remain long after we stop having the conversation. For more information, please feel free to email us at YoungPeopleServices@nlb.gov.sg

$$ Live Your Dream $$

Take Risks! Dare to be Different! Persevere!
These were some of the messages from the 2 books shared by Alvin and Rineal today...

Alvin's book by Dennis Wee "Get Rich Now" shared strategies on how to change not only your mentality but also the action to take to achieve financial success. For those of you who are not familiar with the author, Dennis Wee is a self-made local millionaire who struck it rich in the properties industry. His book shares 15 strategies that includes making more out of less (leveraging) and the power of perseverance (never say die!). The book has pictures of Wee with famous persons in Singapore such as President S R Nathan, showing that you need to promote yourself in order to be successful.

However, Alvin felt that the book did not detail enough about Wee's personal path to success only in fairly general terms.

Siew Yong included that Wee had presented at NLB's last Staff Forum (in Feb) for the librarians and above. He basically touched on themes such as "thinking out of the box" and "working hand in hand" to achieve success.

In contrast, Rineal's book, "I can't believe I get paid to do this" was more comprehensive. The author interviewed several successful people in their fields who had dared to follow their dream. The interviews were presented in an easy to read Q&A format. What was very useful about the book was that after each guiding principle, it was followed with coaching questions that you should ask yourself and action steps to take to achieve personal success, be it financially, spiritually or otherwise. Kind of like a personal coach motivating you!
~~ Rasica MH

Aug's Readings

This month's sharing session will be by Alvin and Rineal...the money-minded pple (hahaha!)
Read on to find out what they would be sharing on...

25/8/05 (Thurs)
1.30 - 2.15 pm
Staff Pantry

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Alvin's..

Get rich now : 15 proven strategies from a self-made milllionaire (by Dennis Wee, SING 650.1 WEE)

If you want to be rich, learn from someone who has already made lots of money like Dennis Wee. His book shares practical and logical tips on getting rich!
~~ Alvin
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Rineal's...

I can't believe I get paid to do this! (by Stacey Mayo, 158.1 MAY)

Do you dream of starting your own business, making a career change or creating financial independence? This book will help you maximise your success. It includes strategies from people who have made their dreams come true, such as the first American woman to successfully climb Mt Everest. (See the I can't believe I get paid to do this! site)
~~Rasica

Goodbye Daily Grind, Hello Peace of Mind!

This month's book shared by Bee Hong created quite a lively session.

Office Fengshui (by Darren Zeer) gave easy to follow ideas and tips on how to create balance in a chaotic workplace. However, before one can embark on these old-age Chinese practice, one must be willing to change and have to pay attention to details.

More calm = more productivity
Some of the techniques she shared with us from the book include:
Messy desk syndrome - the desktop map of success (what items to put and how to arrange so as to encourage calm, creativity, courage, etc.)
Computer clutter - which desktop icons, background (purple!), screensave (mountains) to use, how to handle emails
Food - yin and yang foods to energize or calm
and more.

The book's illustrations by Frank Montagna also drew favourable comments such as so cute!
Overall, the book presents fengshui in an easy-to-use and practical manner that delights whether or not you actually follow the ideas.

~~ By Rasica MH

July's Session News

This month's session will be chaired by Bee Hong

20/7/2005 (WED)

1.30 - 2.15 pm

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Office Feng Shui: Creating Harmony in Workspace (By: Darrin Zeer)
Call no: 133.3337 ZEE

This book come with more than 50 simple techniques which author guaranteed will increase productivity and create harmony at work, home and even when you are on the move.

~~ Bee Hong
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Across an Ocean

Updates from June's sharing session.... Unfortunately, Li Sa was unable to share her books (very bz woman!) So here' s mine..
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Dear Exile: the true story of 2 friends separated (for a year) by an ocean
By: Hilary Liftin & Kate Montgomery

Dear
Exile is a candid and humourous look at a relationship between two women; roommates and best friends in college. Newly married Kate and her husband, Dave, travels to Kenya to volunteer and teach at various schools in villages. Hilary moves to New York City, where she looks for a suitable job, a decent place to live and her other half. Both women chronicle their travels, mis-adventures and other life experiences in their letters to each other.

What I especially like about the book is that it deals with many issues but in a light-hearted way. In a broader perspective, the book deals with cultural differences, for eg. the Americans (first world) and Kenyans (third world) cultural clashes. Back home, Hilary suffers her own 'culture shock' when she goes to work, caving in to the standards of office and beauty cultures. Other issues dealt with are relationships between people they meet (incl men-women relationships), and staying true to one's dreams when having to make adjustments in life.

One of my favourite observations in the book is by Hilary when she writes her wry thoughts about differences between her life as a single woman and the lives of couples, in particular from pg 52 and 64.

Another big question that the book tries to tackle is how much an individual can do to make a change in society. Kate and her husband leave Kenya because they don't have the spirit or the energy to move to another village. Are they giving up too soon? Were they too idealistic?

The book works well as the letters make their experiences more real and personal. It shows the power of friendship which should not be taken for granted. Effort needs to be put in to order to make it work.

~~ Rasica MH

PS: Hilary has another book "Candy and Me (A Love Story)" ... check it out!
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Library News

Our CE recently emailed to the staff regarding a UK university library that was throwing out rare books much to the anger of students and booklovers. Hopely such an incident never happens in NLB!

University library dumps rare books (news article from Guardian Unlimited on 18/6/05)

In his satire about a library, The Battle of the Books, Jonathan Swift recounts that "a restless spirit haunts over every book till dust or worms have seized upon it."

Followup to the main story, A new chapter for unwanted books (on 20/6/05)