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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>INCONSIDERATE LIBRARIAN: 'With an important project to complete, we thought the National Library, an inspiring beacon of lifelong learning, would be the best venue...'
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->ON WEDNESDAY morning, three friends and I went to the National Library Building in Victoria Street to do research for our university project. We went to the study room on the fifth floor but it was full, so the security guard on that level told us to go to B1 to do our research. Thus we took her advice and found a sofa in B1 to settle down in. It was 10am on a weekday morning, so there were many empty seats around.
We had barely sat down with our laptops for less than 10 minutes when a librarian approached us and shouted, 'Get out. Leave immediately.'
We were puzzled by her agitation as we were not discussing anything but merely quietly doing our research on our laptops. We tried to explain, but to no avail. She justified herself by claiming, 'There are four of you here, you will surely make a lot of noise.' She repeat her demands loudly without suggesting any alternative venue, causing a commotion and disturbing other readers (some of whom were foreigners).
As university students with an important project to complete, we thought the National Library, which claims its mission is to be 'an inspiring beacon of lifelong learning', would be the best venue for us to complete our project, but unfortunately, the librarian ruined our previously excellent impression of the library.
We could have accepted her views if she had kindly asked us to move elsewhere and suggested another appropriate venue, but her unconstructive shouting was impolite, especially in the main National Library Building, which many foreigners visit and may get a bad impression of Singapore customer service.
We hope the National Library Board will look into this, as poor customer service reflects badly not only on its reputation, but Singapore's as well.
Tan Yan Wen (Ms) <!-- end of for each --><!-- Current Ratings : start --><!-- Current Ratings : end --><!-- vbbintegration : start -->
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->ON WEDNESDAY morning, three friends and I went to the National Library Building in Victoria Street to do research for our university project. We went to the study room on the fifth floor but it was full, so the security guard on that level told us to go to B1 to do our research. Thus we took her advice and found a sofa in B1 to settle down in. It was 10am on a weekday morning, so there were many empty seats around.
We had barely sat down with our laptops for less than 10 minutes when a librarian approached us and shouted, 'Get out. Leave immediately.'
We were puzzled by her agitation as we were not discussing anything but merely quietly doing our research on our laptops. We tried to explain, but to no avail. She justified herself by claiming, 'There are four of you here, you will surely make a lot of noise.' She repeat her demands loudly without suggesting any alternative venue, causing a commotion and disturbing other readers (some of whom were foreigners).
As university students with an important project to complete, we thought the National Library, which claims its mission is to be 'an inspiring beacon of lifelong learning', would be the best venue for us to complete our project, but unfortunately, the librarian ruined our previously excellent impression of the library.
We could have accepted her views if she had kindly asked us to move elsewhere and suggested another appropriate venue, but her unconstructive shouting was impolite, especially in the main National Library Building, which many foreigners visit and may get a bad impression of Singapore customer service.
We hope the National Library Board will look into this, as poor customer service reflects badly not only on its reputation, but Singapore's as well.
Tan Yan Wen (Ms) <!-- end of for each --><!-- Current Ratings : start --><!-- Current Ratings : end --><!-- vbbintegration : start -->