Library joining fee

[Sital]

can someone please advice me why I have to pay to join a library in Singapore... aren't all libraries free to join? Please shed some light.

[nakatago]

I'm assuming you're a foreigner. That means nothing's keeping you to stay in Singapore which can also mean you can borrow something to never return it.

[nutnut]

See following link.

It's clearly advertised, if you don't like it then you don't have to join, you can buy all the books you want to read instead.

http://www.nlb.gov.sg/page/PlMicrositeC ... yGuidePage

1f is the section for Foreigners, very reasonable if you ask me.

nutnut

[carteki]

Seriously - for 6 books / mags / dvd's at at time for 3 weeks - $50 is peanuts. I'll gladly pay that if just to support the library (and they carry decent stuff too).

[boffenl]

It was a surprise to us at first as well. But we paid--and once we became PR it's FREE. Just one unknown benefit of being PR?

If you read a lot it's worth it--or if you live or work near a library. They do carry some great stuff and you can go on-line to reserve and search for books, dvd's and cds. Pretty god system actually.

[the lynx]

Well if you don't fancy paying the fee, you can always sit there and read all the way

[scarbowl]

Free? Yes, as stated, but just to residents. Local schools aren't fee either, even to residents. They aren't expensive but they aren't without cost, either. The library has a high level of services. If, for example, you request a book from another branch they will obtain it and SMS you that it is in. They'll also SMS a reminder that your books are due.

My advice - pay the fee and enjoy the benefits.