Jamus Lim criticises Yale-NUS book disposal as failure of top-down decisions without consultation

Online Citizen​

21-05-2025

Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Workers' Party Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, has weighed in on the National University of Singapore's (NUS) attempted disposal of Yale-NUS College library books, describing it as emblematic of the problems with top-down decision-making carried out without meaningful consultation.
Lim made the remarks in a Facebook post on 21 May 2025, a day after public criticism erupted over reports that hundreds of books from the Yale-NUS library were being discarded.
NUS issued a apology on 21 May, acknowledging the misstep. In comments reported by CNA, University Librarian Associate Professor Natalie Pang called the incident an 'operational lapse'.
Lim calls book disposal symbolic of top-down decisions and missed educational opportunities
Reflecting on his personal reverence for books, Lim wrote, 'As a child, my mother routinely warned me never to sit on books… they were an embodiment of knowledge.'
He noted that both he and his wife, as academics and bibliophiles, have long respected the value of printed knowledge.
'It was somewhat distressing… to hear about how a large number of books—previously housed at the Yale-NUS Library—had been unceremoniously discarded on a sidewalk, before they would then be shredded,' Lim wrote.
He commented that this event symbolised the 'clinical manner' in which Yale-NUS College itself was shut down.
Lim criticised the missed opportunity, stating that many of the books were in excellent condition and could have been redistributed with 'some advanced planning and consultation'.
Lim noted reports that students passing by were prevented from taking any of the books due to concerns over RFID tags still embedded in them.
He dismissed this explanation as a technicality, suggesting that such issues were easily surmountable.
He cited research on the long-term benefits of book ownership, referencing studies like Freakonomics and a 2018 social science study which indicated that even the presence of books in a home is associated with improved academic outcomes in children.
'The whole sorry episode strikes me as yet another instance of how top-down decisions, made without widespread consultation with diverse stakeholders, can lead to undesirable outcomes,' he stated.
Lim emphasised that while democratic processes can be messy, they help avoid 'the most egregious missteps'.
Books already destroyed by time NUS intervened, says recycling company
On 21 May, Assoc Prof Pang said that although excess books are usually rehomed within the NUS library system or offered to both faculty and students, this time, students were not given that opportunity.
'We understand later that many students were interested in having these books, and we would have usually acceded to their requests,' she said. 'We did not do so on this occasion, and we apologise.'
To address the situation, NUS announced it would organise a book giveaway and review its processes to ensure broader access to surplus materials in future.
Most of the Yale-NUS library collection had been redistributed to other NUS libraries. However, remaining volumes were offered only to faculty.
Books that were not taken were sent for recycling, which Pang said was consistent with standard library practices.
The issue escalated when it was revealed that the books had already been destroyed before NUS attempted to intervene.
According to an employee from Green Orange Enviro, the recycling company involved, NUS contacted them at about 3pm on 20 May to stop the recycling. By then, the materials had already been processed at Asia Recycling Resources.
Students at the scene reported seeing books loaded onto recycling trucks and attempted to intervene.
CNA reported that two NUS staff and two employees from the recycling firm stopped them, stating the books were 'slated for disposal' and could not be kept.
An NUS librarian told students the disposal had to proceed due to a short clearance timeline set by the NUS Law Faculty and campus infrastructure team.
The Straits Times cited a former senior Yale-NUS librarian who estimated the library held 40,000 to 45,000 volumes. Around 8,500 remain available for giveaway.
A student-led petition titled Save the Yale-NUS Library Books has called for transparency and accountability.
It claimed around 2,000 volumes, valued at over S$100,000, were destroyed, and questioned the decision's alignment with NUS's Sustainability Plan.
As of 11.51am on 21 May, the petition had garnered 667 signatures.
Yale-NUS College is set to close this year, with its final cohort graduating in May 2025.
The NUS Law Faculty, currently based at the Bukit Timah campus, is scheduled to relocate to the Yale-NUS premises later in the year, prompting the need to clear existing facilities.