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

288 points · 149 comments · geox

  1. itake · · 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 · · 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. ValentineC · · 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:&#x2F;&#x2F;ask.gov.sg&#x2F;activesg&#x2F;questions&#x2F;clztixkjr00agracq0ys53ms4" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;ask.gov.sg&#x2F;activesg&#x2F;questions&#x2F;clztixkjr00agracq0ys53...

        1. joeblubaugh · · focus · HN ↗
          Good luck finding staff willing to help you IME
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