Two new mini libraries on wheels to reach out to 48,000 children

The National Library Board has launched two new mini libraries on wheels to reach out to more young children in kindergartens and childcare centres. -- BH PHOTO: TUKIMAN WARJI
The National Library Board has launched two new mini libraries on wheels to reach out to more young children in kindergartens and childcare centres. -- BH PHOTO: TUKIMAN WARJI

The National Library Board (NLB) on Thursday launched two new mini libraries on wheels to reach out to more young children in kindergartens and childcare centres.

The two vans are known as mini Mollys, smaller versions of the existing Molly, NLB's mobile library bus, which was launched in 2008.

They will reach out to some 48,000 children from 160 preschools in Housing Board estates, as well as welfare homes with smaller carparks, that are not covered by Molly.

NLB chief executive Elaine Ng said the mobile Molly library reached out to 75 organisations last year, including orphanages, childcare centres, schools, welfare and old age homes.

With the two new vehicles, the fleet will now reach 235 organisations a year - almost three times the number of locations. The mini Mollys will visit preschools at least once a month.

A group of 12 children from My First Skool childcare centre at Haig Road were the first to get onboard one of the mini Mollys, where Minister of State for Communications and Information, and Education, Ms Sim Ann spent some time reading storybooks to them.

Sponsored by the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, the 7.5m-long vans each carry 1,500 books, and can take 12 children at a time. They also have their own borrowing station and book drop-off.

Librarians onboard will also conduct activities such as story-telling, art-and-craft and sing-along sessions for preschoolers.

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