Libraries for community learning (Singapore)

I was at a library conference in Singapore at a panel about social media use by libraries. I argued that rather than just doing online stuff on Facebooks and Twitters, libraries could be a space that taps on the knowledge of the people in the city/community. I felt that just like everything else, there will be a target for social media and we will end up giving prizes for people posting picture, posing with books in hand.

Libraries have books, magazines, digital resources - knowledge created or curated by others, often from a different country. There is so much latent knowledge in people in the city - all their work, travel and life experiences. What if libraries could be such a space where people come and share these stories. And these could be linked back to the books and other resources in the library.

I believe that ordinary people find joy in sharing their stories, as it brings them satisfaction to have their knowledge recognized by the wider community.

Town library in Suva, Fiji. I like to visit libraries when I travel to some place.

BTW, it was nice to be invited but I don’t like panels. It’s a bit dull,