FATS: Butter vs. shortening vs. margarine

Thank you for your enquiry.

You asked for some resources on food science for secondary school. Below are some resources which I hope you will find useful.

Books
Title McGee on food and cooking : an encyclopedia of kitchen science, history and culture / Harold McGee.
Author McGee, Harold.
Other Title On food and cooking
Publisher London : Hodder & Stoughton, 2004.
Call No.: R 641.403 MAC
Available at Jurong and Woodlands Regional Libraries (for reference only)

International dictionary of food & cooking : ingredients, additives, techniques, equipment, menu terms, catering terms, food science and outline domestic and production recipes / compiled by Charles G. Sinclair.
Publisher Teddington : Peter Collin, 1998.
Call No.: R 641.03 INT
Available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, Paris Ris Community Library, Tampines and Woodlands Regional Library (for reference only)

Title Essentials of food science / Vickie A. Vaclavik, Elizabeth W. Christian.
Call No.: R 664 VAC
Only available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library

Title Nutrition and food science.
Publisher: London : Forbes Pub., c1970-
Call No.: R 641.105 NFS year 2005
Only available at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library

Title The cake book / Tish Boyle ; photography by John Uher.
Author Boyle, Tish.
Publisher Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2006.
Contents Ingredients for cakes -- Cake-baking equipment -- Cake-making techniques, tips, and troubleshooting -- Cake decor -- Angel food, chiffon, and sponge cakes -- Pound cakes and coffee cakes -- Butter- and oil-based cakes -- Fruit-based cakes -- Flourless cakes -- Cheesecakes -- Mousse and ice cream cakes -- Meringue cakes -- Fillings and frostings -- Basic recipes and accompaniments -- Sources.
641.8653 BOY -[COO]
Available for loan at NLB libraries

You can check the availability of the above titles by opening your browser to this url: http://vistaweb.nlb.gov.sg.


Online
Enlightened Cooking: Butter vs Shortening in Baking
http://enlightenedcooking.blogspot.com/2008/04/butter-vs-shortening-in-baking.html

Cake making - Joyofbaking.com
http://www.joyofbaking.com/CakeMaking.html

Butter vs shortening - ChefTalk Cooking Forums
http://www.cheftalk.com/forums/food-cooking-questions-discussion/2630-butter-vs-shortening.html


We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

English Reading list for Primary 1 & 4 levels

Thank you for your enquiry.

There are many great books found at the library for P1 and P4 children. I have listed some popular authors of English books for these two age groups. To enable you to cast a wider net, I have also listed websites with reading lists for various age groups. I hope they will be useful to you.

English Books - P1
Allan Alhberg
Allan Ahlberg & Janet Ahlberg Bibliography
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/ahlbergbib.htm
Call no. at the library: JP AHL

Stan Berenstain
The Official Berenstain Bears Website
http://www.berenstainbears.com/
Call no. at the library: JP BER

Marc Brown
Marc Brown Studios
http://www.marcbrownstudios.com/index.html
Call no. at the library: JP BRO

Anthony Browne
List of titles written by this author can be found in the following website
http://www.walkerbooks.co.uk/Anthony-Browne
Call no. at the library: JP BRO

Eric Carle
The Official Eric Carle Web Site
http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html
Call no. at the library: JP CAR

Mem Fox
All about Mem
http://www.memfox.com/welcome.html
Call no. at the library: JP FOX

Kevin Henkes
Homepage
http://www.kevinhenkes.com/
Call no. at the library: JP HEN

Eric Hill
Author of Spot the Dog
The Official Spot Website
http://www.funwithspot.com/
Call no. at the library: JP HIL

Leo Lionni
List of titles written by this author can be found in the following website
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/lionnibib.htm
Call no. at the library: JP LEO

David McKee
Author of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant
http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/childrens/elmer/home.htm
Call no. at the library: JP MAC

Marcus Pfister
Author of the popular Rainbow Fish
Marcus Pfister Biography
http://www.bravemonster.com/authors/marcuspfister.htm
Call no. at the library: JP PFI

Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss's Seussville
http://www.seussville.com/
Call no. at the library: JP SEU

English Books - P4

(Please see attached PDF)


You can check the availability of the books listed above by going to this website http://vistaweb.nlb.gov.sg/

Reading Lists

Kid's Source Online Reading List
http://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content3/RWNactivities/ReadingLists.html

Hedgehog Books
http://www.hedgehogbooks.com/gradelevel.html

More Reading Lists
http://www.bookspot.com/readinglists/

(All websites listed were last accessed on 16 June 2008. Please check the respective websites' main page for their terms and conditions for use.)

We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

Musicals

1) I would like to know why Les Misérables ( a popular musical ) is such a good story for a musical.
* Do not need to be too detailed
 
2) Phantom of the Opera
- When was it written?
- What is the story about?
- Who wrote and composed it?
- When was it first performed?
- What are some of the famous songs from this musical?
 
Thank You.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Like all great stories ever told, there are elements of history, struggles of war, good vs. evil, friendship and most importantly, love, in Les Misérables. Before it became a hit musical, it was a novel written by French author Victor Hugo. Its story is set in the 19th century and spans 20 years. The story focuses on the struggles of several characters, of which its protagonist is ex-convict Jean Valjean, who seeks to redeem his wayward past by doing good. He takes in the daughter of a dying prostitute, Cosette, but is haunted by his past in the form of an obsessive police inspector called Javert. The story traces his struggle through the French revolution to his eventual demise of old age.

The book was first published in 1862 and the musical opened in 1980 in Paris.

You can refer to the following web resources for more on Les Miz:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_%28musical%29
- http://www.lesmis.com (official website of the musical)
- http://www.napoleonic-literature.com/AgeOfNapoleon/E-Texts/Miserables.html (script for stage)
- http://www.answers.com/topic/les-mis-rables-musical?cat=entertainment
(last accessed 11 June 08)
*For the above weblinks, you are advised to click through to the respective site's main page to read their Terms & Conditions for use of the site before continuing.

You can also refer to the following book:
Title Les Misérables : history in the making / Edward Behr.
Author Behr, Edward, 1926-
Publisher London : Pavilion Books, 1996.
Call no.: 792.642 BEH -[ART]


As to your second question on the musical Phantom of the Opera, here are the answers to the questions you asked:

- When was it written?
The novel by Gaston Leroux was first published in 1911. The silent horror film was released in 1925. The musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber was first staged in 1986
[sources: (i) "Phantom of the Opera, The," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008. 11 June 2008. (ii) "Andrew Lloyd Webber," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008. 11 June 2008. ]

- What is the story about?
It is about a ghost that inhabited a Paris opera house and his obsession with a young singer, Christine Daaé. The story is based on real events related to the Paris Opera House.

- Who wrote and composed it?
The music was composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart and additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe.

- When was it first performed?
The musical opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in London on October 9, 1986

- What are some of the famous songs from this musical?
Angel of Music; Phantom of the Opera; The Music of the Night; All I Ask of You; Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

Please refer to the following resources for more on the Phantom of the Opera
- http://library.ebonline.com/eb/article-9047888 (about Gaston Leroux)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_of_the_opera
- http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761598764/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera.html
- http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefEdList.aspx?refid=210003187
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_%281986_musical%29
(last accessed 11 June 08)
*For the above weblinks, you are advised to click through to the respective site's main page to read their Terms & Conditions for use of the site before continuing.

You can also refer to the following books:
Title The phantom of the Opera / Gaston Leroux ; introduction by Anne Perry.
Author Leroux, Gaston, 1868-1927.
Other Title Fantôme de l'Opéra English
Publisher New York : Modern Library, 2002.
Call no.: LER

Title The complete Phantom of the opera / George Perry ; research by Jane Rice ; special photography by Clive Barda.
Author Perry, George C., 1935-
Publisher London : Pavilion, 1987
782.8107 PER -[ART]

You can check the availability of the books listed above by going to this website http://vistaweb.nlb.gov.sg/

We hope that the above has been useful to you.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

No straightforward answers here

Librarian,

Pls help:

a) Who invented the first computer?
b) Who invented cars?

Thank you

Thank you for your enquiry.

There are differing accounts on who invented the first computer, depending on what you mean by a computer. To some people, it can mean anything that helps you to do calculations, even if it is a mechanical machine. The first such machine that was considered by some to be a computer was invented in 1800s by Charles Babbage, called a 'Difference Engine' or 'Analytic Engine' (information from "An A to Z of almost everything" by Trevor Montague [2007], call no. 032 A). To others, a computer must be an electrical device. The first electrical machine, called Z3, that could be programmed was built by Konrad Zuse in 1941 (information from "The inside & outside guide to inventions" by Chris Oxlade, call no. J 608 OXL). We must of course remember that today's computers are much much smaller than those first computers.

In addition, sometimes, it is not a matter of who invented it and how but that someone had an idea and other people improved on it again and again till we have the machines we use today. So in a way it is a team effort spread over a long time. To learn about how computers have progressed to what we have today, do read the interesting books above and also take a look at this website: http://inventors.about.com/library/blcoindex.htm (last accessed 11 June 08). It has quite a detailed timeline of information on the people who invented different types of computers.

For more information on computers, you may find the following books useful:
1) Computer & Communication
J 004.6 COM

2) Computer by Anne Rooney
J 004.16 ROO

3) 101 fantastic things to do with your computer by Tony & Liz Wheeler
J 004.16 WHE

If you wish to find out more about inventors and other inventions,
1) Machines and Inventions by David Jefferis
J 608 JEF

2) Great Inventions: Everyday life by Paul Dowswell
J 609 DOW

3) 100 Great Inventors
J 608.72 ONE


As for your second question on who invented cars, this is another question to which there isn't a straightforward answer. As there were different forms of automobiles in the past such as those running on steam, gasoline or electricity, therefore there were also different times and people of which these were invented by. You may wish to visit this Library of Congress website to obtain some clarity: www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/auto.html

To give you an interim answer, the first petrol-driven motor cars were made possible by the invention of the internal-combustion engine in 1863. The first motor cars, produced during the 1880s by a German engineer, Karl Benz, were known as 'horseless carrieges’.

Source:
Transport / Nigel Smith, pg. 6 (call no. Y R STU q388.09 SMI-[TPT])

In the 1880s, German engineers Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler worked independently to produce the first petrol engine. In 1885, Karl Benz built his flimsy motorized tricycle, the first petrol-powered car.

Source:
Dorling Kindersley children's illustrated encyclopedia / [senior editor, Ann Kramer]. pg. 126 (call no. J R 032 DOR)

Here are some additional websites where you can find more information:
http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/Car_History.htm
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec96/844045821.Eg.r.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile
(last accessed 11 June 08)
*For the above weblinks, you are advised to click through to the respective site's main page to read their Terms & Conditions for use of the site before continuing.

You may also check on the following titles available in the library:

1) Karl Benz / Brian Williams.
Call no: J 925 WIL

2) Great auto makers and their cars / Robert Italia.
Call no: Y 629.20922 ITA (Available only at Geylang East Library)

3) A history of cars / by David Corbett.
Call no: J 629.222 COR

4) The story of cars / Katie Daynes
Call no: J 629.222 DAY

To check on the availability of any of the above books in our libraries, please visit www.pl.sg and click on 'Search NLB catalogue' on the left sidebar.

We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

How many minutes does it take to reach space?

Thank you for your enquiry.

You asked how many minutes it takes to reach space. I assume you mean how long it would take to reach outer space on a space shuttle.

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a space shuttle travels at a speed of approximately 5 miles per second (8.04 km) and 17,500 miles per hour (28,164 km/h). The distance between Earth's surface and space is 100 km, hence it would take a space shuttle only 12 seconds to reach space.

If you are interested to read more about spaceflight, you may wish to check out these resources:

Print
Title: Space and spaceflight / written by Harry Ford and Kay Barnham.
Author: Ford, Harry.
Publisher: London : Puffin Books, 1995.
Call no.: J 523 FOR

Title: Voyage through space / Peter Grego.
Author: Grego, Peter.
Publisher: London : QED, 2007.
Call no.: J 629.4 GRE

Title: Can we travel to the stars? : space flight and space exploration / Andrew Solway.
Author: Solway, Andrew.
Publisher: Oxford : Heinemann Library, 2006.
Call no.: J 629.4 SOL

Title: Journey into space / by Gerry Bailey ; illustrated by Steve Boulter and Jan Smith.
Author: Bailey, Gerry.
Publisher: Minneapolis, Minn. : Picture Window Books, 2005.
Call no.: J 629.4 BAI

Title: The astronaut's survival guide / E. Young.
Author: Young, Emma.
Publisher: London : Puffin, 2004.
Call no.: J 629.45 YOU

The availability of these titles can be checked via our online catalogue at www.pl.sg.


Online
Spaceflight, last accessed from Wikipedia on 30 May 08 at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceflight
NASA Human Space Flight, last accessed from NASA on 30 May 08 at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/home/index.html
Spaceflight Now, last accessed on 30 May 08 at http://spaceflightnow.com

We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

Safety Precautions

Hi,
 
I like to know
 
1) What are the safety precautions one can follow for home and office in the event of earthquake?
 
2) What are the natural disasters that are found in Nanjing, China?
 
3) What are the specific safety measures for each natural disasters that are found in Nanjing, China?
 
Thank you.

Thank you for your enquiry.

(1) According to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the following are precautions to take in the event of an earthquake:

• When tremor occurs:
- Keep calm and take cover under a desk, table or against interior walls. Stay away from windows, outside doors or walls, display shelves and anything that can fall and hurt you, such as lighting, furniture or fixtures;
- Do not rush for the exit which may start a stampede;
- If you are outdoors, stay away from buildings and overhead electrical cables. Remain in the open until the tremor stops;
- Do not use candles, matches or other naked flames during and after the tremor, as there might be a gas leak; and
- If driving, stop quickly and safely and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under trees, buildings, bridges, overpasses or overhead electrical cables.

• After vibrations have stopped:
- Do not touch any damaged electrical wiring. Report any gas leaks;
- Give help to those who are injured or who require assistance. Call the Police or SCDF if necessary; and
- Check your home for any structural defects and alert relevant authorities such as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and HDB Essential Maintenance Service Unit.

In addition, here are some more precautions culled from various websites:

• During an earthquake:
- The most important thing is to remain calm.
- If you are indoors, stand in a doorway or crouch under a desk or table, away from windows or glass fixtures.
- If you are outdoors, stay away from objects such as light poles, buildings, trees and telephone or electric wires which could fall and injure you.

• After an earthquake:
- Check for injuries in your family and in the neighbourhood. Seriously injured persons should not be moved unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. First-aid should be administered, but only by someone who is qualified or has a working knowledge of first-aid.
- Turn off appropriate utilities. Do not use matches, lighters or open flame, appliances or electrical switches until you are sure that there are no gas leaks.
- Keep battery-operated radios and listen for emergency bulletins.
- Be prepared for additional earthquake shocks.

(2) Due to its sheer size, China is one of the countries most affected by natural disasters. Disasters such as drought, flooding and earthquakes have occurred in parts of China before and no particular state is especially prone to any specific form of natural disaster. I was not able to find any information on natural disasters that have occurred in the city of Nanjing in history. However, as earthquakes are much more common along fault lines, you may be interested in this web resource which maps seismic activity : neic.usgs.gov/neis/epic/epic_global.html (choose "Generate Map" under the Select Output Type field and "Significant Worldwide Earthquakes" under Search Parameters)
You can also find out more about earthquakes in China from the US Geological Survey website at earthquake.usgs.gov

Here are some resources on Nanjing that you may wish to read up on:
Print
Title Nanjing and the lower Yangzi : from the past to present / text and photos by Eric N. Danielson.
Author Danielson, Eric N.
Publisher Singapore : Times Editions-Marshall Cavendish, c2004.
915.1 DAN -[TRA]

Online
- Nanjing. (2007). In Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition [Web]. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://www.bartleby.com/65/na/Nanjing.html
- Nanjing. (2008). In Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2008 [Web]. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761573209/Nanjing.html
- Nanjing. (2008). In Wikipedia [Web]. Retrieved May 20, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanjing

We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please take some time to fill in the survey below. You may also contact us again if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

Killer Litter

Originally asked on 06/04/2008:

Hey Librarian,

I would like to have some newspaper articles (Singapore) on killer litter, animal abuse, robberies / theft, vandalism - all happening @ HDB corridors / void decks.

I need these as additional resources for my P3 pupils who will be writing a situational composition exercise on Thursday (10 April), so I need them asap.

Thanxxx yah..

Thank you for your enquiry.

There are quite a few articles on vandalism, animal abuse, killer litter and etc at HDB corridors / void decks. Below are two of them. For more examples, you may like to access the Factiva database listed under "eResources" -> "eDatabases" -> "News" at the National Library Board website (http://www.nlb.gov.sg). In order to access the Factiva database, you must be a digital library member and you can sign up for it by selecting "Register your account" at the NLB homepage.

[1]

Singapore
Battling the killer litter menace
Jessica Cheam
739 words
5 December 2006
Straits Times
English
(c) 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Shortly after the town councils pledged to intensify efforts against killer litter last week, The Straits Times joined senior property officer Stella Wong on her rounds as she identified dangerously placed objects and issued stern warnings

IT WAS an accident waiting to happen.

A long bamboo pole, tied to a corridor railing with a flimsy piece of string, hung precariously from the fourth floor of Block 276, Bukit Panjang Road.

'Potential killer litter! So dangerous,' exclaimed Madam Stella Wong, on her daily inspection as a senior property officer for Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council.

In plainclothes and trainers, Madam Wong, 37, marched up the stairs to the door of the HDB resident: 'Auntie, can you take down the pole outside, please? If that falls, someone walking below will surely get hurt.'

'So sorry,' said the elderly resident, shocked at the visit from The Straits Times team who accompanied Madam Wong last Thursday. 'This is only our first time. My husband put it out just for a day to dry clothes. We thought there was no harm.' .......


[2]

KITTY KICK AND CLICK SPARKS OUTRAGE
Teh Jen Lee
1355 words
25 September 2006
The New Paper
English
Copyright 2006, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Man lures cat, then kicks it while friend catches act on handphone video

THE scene opens with a man in dark glasses walking along an HDB void deck, his feline victim trailing innocently a few steps behind him.The man turns and beckons to the black-and-white cat, then bends down to stroke it.

All this while, the person filming the act on a handphone camera gives out directions much as a director of a real film would.

He is heard saying 'slowly, slowly' to the man in the video. Then, he says what sounds like 'get ready', and then 'okay'.

The horror unfolds in a matter of seconds.

The man in the video gives the cat a vicious kick as if it is a football. Both men burst out laughing as the cat flies into the air and lands a few metres away. .......



We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

Hainan and Hokkien people

Originally asked on 06/04/2008:

can you tell me what holidays do hainan and hokkien people clebrate?
what special customs do hainan and hokkien people follow?

what foods do hokkien and hainan people eat?
can you send the reply to me by today
thank you very much!!!

Thank you for your enquiry.

Below is some information on Hainanese and Hokkien holidays or customs. Do note that they are not specific to people in Singapore. People from different dialect groups in Singapore are more likely to commemorate major Chinese customs such as Lunar New Year, Qing Ming and Mid-Autumn than they are the customs below which are practiced by native communities.

Here are some Hainan holidays/customs:
- Junpo festival : a festival for Han people to worship Madam Xian, a politician and national heroine who devoted her life to the development of local agriculture and economy
- Sanyuesan festival (also known as Coconut festival) : This takes place on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month of the year. Traditionally a festival meant for young Li & Miao men and women to sing, dance and celebrate life and love. An annual event at which the island province's coconut-associated cultural heritage and ethnic habits and customs are displayed
(source: http://www.sunnysanya.com/hainan_island/Hainan_Island_Culture_Festival.asp & http://www.chinareview.com/culture/festivals/hainan-coconut-festival/index.html)

The worship of Tian Gong or the Heavenly God by making offerings to the supreme deity on the ninth day of the first month in the lunar calendar is an example of a typical Hokkien custom.

Typical Hainanese food includes:
- Hainanese chicken rice (an assemblage of "white" (ginger and garlic) poached chicken and rice steamed in stock and chicken fat, served with cucumber, broth and dipping sauces)
- Hainanese western food
- Mutton soup
(sources:
- http://www.hainan-world.com/dir/hainanfood.html
- http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2003/yax-313.htm
- http://kuali.com/flavours/review.asp?file=flavours/2003/3/3haina&sec=flavours )

Typical Hokkien food includes:
- Hong Bak (braised pork in black soy sauce)
- Bak Ku Teh (stewed pork in herbal broth)
- Popiah (crepe roll filled with shredded vegetables)
- Hokkien mee (yellow egg noodles, typically served with prawns)
- Gnor Hiang (meat & shrimp roll)
(sources:
- http://kuali.com/flavours/review.asp?file=recfeature/2003/9/19hokki&sec=recfeature
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkien_noodles
- http://food.rumspace.com/2007/07/08/beng-thin-hoon-kee-hokkien-restaurant/ )

*For the above weblinks, you are advised to please click through to the respective site's main page to read their Terms & Conditions for use of the site before continuing.

We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

Cost of National Library building at Victoria Street

Thank you for your enquiry.

You asked about the cost of the National Library building at Victoria Street. The following was taken from the Factiva database:
"This building has a $203 million price tag, including interior design. That is about a third of what it cost to build the $600 million Esplanade."

Full text:
Saturday Special Report
A - Z Guide to the new National Library
Adeline Chia
1459 words
2 July 2005
Straits Times
English
(c) 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
A SPANKING new tower bordered on three sides by busy roads, the National Library Board's new headquarters at Victoria Street looms large amid the backpacker hostels, Housing Board blocks and the two-century-old buildings of North Bridge Road.
Staring up its 16 floors of glass walls, bespectacled bookworms would be stumped - whither the scholarly dust, the bookish stuffiness?
The slick, state-of-the-art facade of the headquarters is a sure sign that some change is afoot at the National Library, a much-loved institution in a country which has a literacy rate of 94 per cent.
But no need to hotfoot it down to the city centre when the new library throws open its doors onJuly 22.
We have sneaked a few peeks to bring you this bumper guide - including tips on what to look out for from its rooftop on a clear day.
AtmosphereNix your images of stuffy libraries where absent-minded academics pore over small print.
On all seven storeys of its reference library, there is mood lighting which - get this - changes colour from red to green to blue to cyan and magenta - every 15 minutes. Open-air gardens scattered all over the buildings are also lit by romantic warm light. But no hanky-panky, please.
Blockbuster This building has a $203 million price tag, including interior design. That is about a third of what it cost to build the $600 million Esplanade.
Command centreNo idle chit-chats around the water cooler at this new hub of knowledge. NLB's head honchos have their offices on Level 14 of the building.
Drama mama You will get more than just theatre scripts here as the National Arts Council's Drama Centre has moved here from Fort Canning.
Occupying Levels 3 to 6 are a 614-seat theatre, a 120-seat black box and a long bar on Level 3.
The theatre has air-conditioning vents under every seat. But worry not about having a Marilyn Monroe Seven-Year Itch moment - these vents produce a very gentle draft.
EclecticThe library's climate-controlled Rare Materials Collection on Level 13 is a showcase of antiques, housing its oldest publication, The History Of Trauayle In The West And East Indies, from 1577.
There is also a letter written by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.
Readers must write to the NLB to seek permission to view the rare materials - and handle them gently, with gloved hands.
Freebies
The NLB is inviting stalls to hand out freebies at its open-air plaza on the ground floor. Suggestions for such goodies include ice cream, yoga crash courses or bookmarks. All in the name of enticing bookworms to drop by more often.
GreenThere are 14 gardens in this building, where lush foliage covers a third of its total area. You can curl up in one of its two huge Zen gardens at Levels 5 and 10 and sink your teeth into that great read you just borrowed.
Everything here is so eco-friendly that the Building and Construction Authority has awarded the NLB top green honours: the Platinum Award for the Green Mark Scheme.
HappeningIf you thought the slick and classy library@esplanade and library@orchard were hip, you have not seen nothing yet. Swop literary gossip with a friend over coffee at Hans cafe. Or just cool your heels while waiting for a poetry recital or mini-concert to begin at one of the many exhibition venues.
Plus, there is the gorgeous rooftop Pod, a glass bubble with a 360-degree view. On a clear day, look southwards and you will see Indonesia.
IntergalacticWander about the massive, pristine-white structures at the vents plaza on the ground floor and feel like an extra in a Star Wars instalment. A far cry, certainly, from its red-brick predecessor at Stamford Road which was, sadly, demolished last March after 44 years.
JumboSpace, space everywhere. This new 58,000 sq m head-quarters is five times the size of the old one at Stamford Road, or the size of about 600 four-room HDB flats.
K-shapedIf you were flying by in a helicopter, you would see that this building is actually K-shaped from the top - thanks to two main blocks connected by covered walkways.
The larger library block houses the Lee Kong Chian reference library. The curved second block, which houses the gardens and commercial tenants, forms the arc of the 'K'.
Look-seeIf this guide has whetted your appetite for more, surf www.nlb.gov.sg for a virtual preview of the building at Virtual Flythrough, created by Singapore Polytechnic students.
My precious Dubbed the NLB's crown jewel, the seven-storey Lee Kong Chian reference library - spanning from Level 7 to Level 13 - is a treasure trove of 500,000 items ranging from country market reports to ultra-rare books on Malayan flora from the 19th century.
Nostalgia The St Andrew's Cross was literally ripped from the Stamford Road library entrance and recast in the new plaza on the side facing Victoria Street.
O Captain, My Captain Ahoy! Sail the South Seas with China's Admiral Zheng He, the gallant Muslim maritime hero, on the 600th anniversary of his maiden voyage to these parts. NLB's Zheng He and Maritime Asia Exhibition on the ground floor will showcase his contributions to economy, religion and technology in the region from Aug 13 to Feb 10 next year.
PostersRemember those 'Small Family, Happy Family', 'Be a Gracious Singaporean' and anti-spitting government posters of yore? These retro slogans are all on display in its Singapore and South-east Asian collections for you to better understand public policy changes over the years (or just for a giggle).
The collection includes political manifestoes, videos of past political rallies and records of election results.
Quiet alarms On top of the screaming ones, that is. There are strobe-lighting fire alarms for readers who are deaf, thanks to the input of seven focus groups which suggested that the NLB should install them. Vox populi rules - on this count.
RecycleIn its basement nestled amid bamboo trees is a 5,000-brick wall built from the remnants of the old Stamford Road library. Companies can buy a piece of history by commissioning sculptures from other salvaged bricks. Those with cash to spare can also bag a commemorative bookmark and a chunk of the Stamford Road HQ brick for $10 each, which goes to charity. Click on www.comchest.org.sg
Sunscreen Giant intelligent window blinds scroll down automatically when the sunis low enough in the sky to sneak past the fixed shades, usually around 4.30pm.
The building's lights also switch off automatically whenever there is enough daylight for one to read without squinting.
Triple joy Talk about a study to die for. At Level 11, there is a triple volume library floor with a book wall almost 6m high housing the Singapore and South-east Asian collections.
Underground You can now get your reading fix at the Central Lending Library in the basement, where 134,000 books, ranging from the arts to business management, are yours for the picking.
Remember to check out its collection of award-winning literature in all four languages.
Vertigo Stand at The Pod's edge on Level 16 and peer down a dizzying height of 102.8m to road level. Aiiiee!
But you will get to do so by invitation only. Someone tried to book it for a wedding, but the NLB said no. There is talk it may be used as a viewing gallery for the National Day fireworks.
Even the toilets have this killer view - they have glass walls so you can scan the horizon.
Wired Check out the NLB's enlarged Digital Library at www.nlb.gov.sg for digitised rare material. Coming soon: An expanded list of more than 40 online databases, such as the Bibliography of Asian Studies, Factiva and the NLB-owned Singapore Infopedia, which tells you all about the nation's roots. Log on at the NLB's computer terminals for 30 cents a minute or bring your laptop and surf wirelessly for free.
X-treme shelvingThere is a total of 15km of bookshelves in this building, which is roughly the length of the Central Expressway (15.5km).
Yesteryear Reading in Singapore goes back a long way, if you go by the permanent exhibition of library heritage from the 1800s on Level 10.
Zephyr
Hang on to your hats - its ground floor plaza is designed to be a wind trap, channelling air between the building's two blocks so that it is replete with zephyrs, or gentle breezes.

You can access Factiva via NLB corporate website at www.nlb.gov.sg. Follow the steps below:

Click on eResources
Click on eDatabases
Under Titles, click E - I
Browse down and look for Factiva.com

As for rental rates for NLB facilities, you can refer to this link: http://www.nlb.gov.sg/CPMS.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=LibraryGuide#facilities

We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.

How much effort do we need to be a teacher?

Thank you for your enquiry.

There is no easy or correct way to answer your question. The amount of effort needed to be a teacher is very much dependent on the individual and other factors. For example, one may argue that teaching in a kindergarten requires more effort than teaching in a university due to having to run after the children all the time and taking care that they do not hurt themselves. However, the university lecturer may in turn argue that teaching in a university requires more effort as they are preparing young adults for the real world and have to ensure that their skills and knowledge are up to date and that they are not passing on the wrong information. The amount of effort an individual puts into his work would also differ from person to person depending on factors such as how committed he or she is to the job, how much time the person has, or whether the person is aiming for a promotion and so on.

In general, teaching is considered much tougher now than it was, say, 20 years ago. Teachers have a set of restrictions they have to abide by in order to carry out their profession. They can no longer enforce corporal punishment as a means to discipline and parents have in turn spent more time at work and less with their children, both instances which has resulted in a new generation of unruly and disrespectful kids. There is also the pressure of ensuring that their students perform well so that the school would in turn do well enough to get a good position on the annual school ranking exercise.

Therefore, there is no doubt that teaching is an arduous task. Please refer to the following resources should you be interested in further reading.

Books
Title 1000 best new teacher survival secrets
Author Brenny, Kathleen
Publisher Naperville, Ill. : Sourcebooks, c2005.
Call No. English 371.1 BRE

Title How to survive your first year in teaching
Author Cowley, Sue
Publisher London : Continuum, 2003
Call No. English 371.102 COW

Title The call to brilliance : a true story to inspire parents and educators
Author Brown, Resa Steindel.
Publisher Thousand Oaks, Calif. : Fredric Press, c2006.
Call No. English 371.0420973 BRO

Database
Saturday Special Report
Teaching - it's all about giving kids wings to fly
891 words
1 September 2007
Straits Times
English
(c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Saturday Special Report
Because of the children
1183 words
25 August 2007
Straits Times
English
(c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

President's Award for 4 inspiring teachers
Jane Ng
572 words
31 August 2007
Straits Times
English
(c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

ST Forum
Satisfaction from seeing students succeed in life
252 words
12 April 2005
Straits Times
English
(c) 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

ST Forum
Lighten their load before more quit
302 words
26 March 2005
Straits Times
English
(c) 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Limited

You can access Factiva via NLB corporate website at www.nlb.gov.sg. Follow the steps below:

Click on eResources
Click on eDatabases
Under Titles, click E - I
Browse down and look for Factiva.com


We hope that the above has been useful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need further assistance.

Thank you for using the ASK! service.