Thread

Singapore’s National Library Board offers micropayments to build reading habits

288 points · 149 comments · geox

itake · 1789919545 · focus · HN ↗
Singapore libraries are really annoying for foreigners because they don’t let you use the WiFi.
Thailand at least gives you a 1 hour pass.
Not that anyone asked but my ranking of public libraries in Asia
1/ Taiwan
2/ HK
3/ Thailand
4/ Laos (private libraries are cute, but hot…)
4/ Vietnam (Bring your passport!)
5/ Singapore
I haven’t been to a library in Japan or S Korea. I tried working from a community center in Japan but I couldn’t figure how it works.
1. Onavo · 1789922033 · focus · HN ↗
  It's not limited to their libraries. All of their public facilities are like this. Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized.
  It's very much a classist country where you position in society is determined by your immigration status. Everything there is tiered based on whether you are a "citizen" (first class), permanent resident (second class), and you are in a permanent out group if you are not in the above two classes. And if you are a foreigner, whether you are a white "expat" or a Dubai -style indenture servant migrant worker. Valley tech bros are obsessed with that country but all that glitters is not gold.
  1. graemep · 1789922360 · focus · HN ↗
    [dead]
  2. ValentineC · 1789925383 · focus · HN ↗
    > Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized.
    There's a FAQ specifically addressing this [1]:
    > If you do not have Singpass, you may still approach our pool or gym staff to buy single-entry passes.
    [1] <a href="https://ask.gov.sg/activesg/questions/clztixkjr00agracq0ys53ms4" rel="nofollow">https://ask.gov.sg/activesg/questions/clztixkjr00agracq0ys53...
    joeblubaugh · 1789951988 · focus · HN ↗
    Good luck finding staff willing to help you IME
  3. debo_ · 1789932147 · focus · HN ↗
    This is also pretty funny considering how much of Singapore's business is related to sheltering the wealth of the rich from other nations.
    joeblubaugh · 1789952132 · focus · HN ↗
    A lot of those people are permanent residents.
  4. [deleted] · 1789936015 · focus · HN ↗
    [deleted]
  5. oreally · 1789974313 · focus · HN ↗
    [dead]
  6. jimmydef · 1789976500 · focus · HN ↗
    Citizens are conscripted into the military. They spend two years at the prime of their youth in the army getting paid almost nothing. And after that two years is over, for the next 10 years or so, they have to go back to reservist military training for several weeks annually.
    They also have to pass the annual military fitness test otherwise they will have to go back to the military to do further physical training in the evenings for weeks even if they have a job. Throughout their 20s and early 30s, most of them cannot even have long hair due to this military duty. Penalty of avoidance is military prison of 3 years. When they go overseas for work or other reasons for longer period of time, they need to apply for an exit permit from the military like a leash. When they go overseas for short periods of time, they still have to notify their military unit first.
    People die or get injured all the time in the army during their conscription period.
    And then you have foreigners coming over and complaining they are not getting subsidized services when they also pay tax.
    Why don't you first talk about the responsibilities of these "first class" citizens before talking about their privileges.
2. joeblubaugh · 1789952051 · focus · HN ↗
  They also charge a pretty hefty membership fee if you’re not at least a PR, and charge for physical book reservations. It was pretty shocking for me after the California library system.
  And I’m a taxpayer. Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income.
  1. orsenthil · 1789952987 · focus · HN ↗
    Work out with a friend to share his library card?
  2. danieltanfh95 · 1789957715 · focus · HN ↗
    > Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income.
    No you don't, most foreigners don't pay more taxes overall per lifetime.
    elil17 · 1789980102 · focus · HN ↗
    Surely the reasonable metric is per year rather than per lifetime given that adult immigrants don't use education and childhood services.
    danieltanfh95 · 1790554217 · focus · HN ↗
    No, because you also do not serve in the army, nor (generally) produce children that will become citizens and thus build the population.
    Education and childhood services are pennies to what the country needs in terms of patriotic duty and population building.
  3. radicaldreamer · 1789970029 · focus · HN ↗
    For libraries, does it really matter who pays taxes and who doesn’t? Seems like it’s a public good that should be available regardless of ability to pay.
    joeblubaugh · 1790042071 · focus · HN ↗
    Exactly my point, annual fees should be zero but instead certain legal residents have to pay higher ones.
  4. oreally · 1789972433 · focus · HN ↗
    [dead]
    joeblubaugh · 1790042135 · focus · HN ↗
    I’m just asking for equal library fees bro, not even a tax-advantaged savings program like CPF.
    oreally · 1790043488 · focus · HN ↗
    [dead]
  5. ValentineC · 1790001238 · focus · HN ↗
    > They also charge a pretty hefty membership fee if you’re not at least a PR
    It's $43.60 per year [1].
    Thank you for contributing a bit more to the library's budget…?
    [1] <a href="https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/library-membership/types-of-membership" rel="nofollow">https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/library-membership/type...
    joeblubaugh · 1790041898 · focus · HN ↗
    In the US, annual library fees are $0, incredibly.
    Maybe I shouldn’t complain, they also seem to think $35 is a reasonable price for a mass-market paperback here.
3. lanfeust6 · 1789957289 · focus · HN ↗
  you might find this interesting - <a href="https://untranslatedjp.substack.com/p/japans-book-scene-is-quietly-moving" rel="nofollow">https://untranslatedjp.substack.com/p/japans-book-scene-is-q...
  Japan's libraries allow cafes and bookstores to operate, which can increase traffic.
4. dailo10 · 1789973726 · focus · HN ↗
  This has not been my experience as a foreigner. WiFi at Singapore public libraries is handled through Wireless@SG - it just requires a one time setup.
  <a href="https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/facilities/wifi-at-the-library" rel="nofollow">https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/facilities/wifi-at-the-...
  1. itake · 1789992482 · focus · HN ↗
    How can you download an app without WiFi…
    I ran into this a few years ago. Maybe they improved it.
    lmz · 1789995079 · focus · HN ↗
    You get a local "tourist" SIM card then configure EAP-SIM. But I guess you don't need the wifi that much once you have the SIM card.
5. Markoff · 1789977151 · focus · HN ↗
  Why should library let ANYONE use the Wi-Fi? I am probabky old school when I think people go to library to rent the books and that should be the main purpose of the library, not provide some free co-working space for cheapskates.
  Sadly Prague libraries provide free Wi-Fi which is at least in one branch I frequent abused by loud kids playing videogames on their phones.
  1. awad · 1790016252 · focus · HN ↗
    The ultimate purpose of a library should be to help with access to knowledge and information for all. In 2026, it's not unreasonable to think that includes internet access, eBooks, perhaps even desktop computers for those who don't have their own.
    Markoff · 1790052750 · focus · HN ↗
    you don't need library for that, if you have laptop or at least smartphone which most of the people have, free wifi is everywhere (and certainly more frequent than libraries) and then you can access whatever information/ebooks you want

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