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Malay Mail
6 days ago
- General
- Malay Mail
Not just books: Yale-NUS students told to destroy DVDs before graduation, sparking outcry over loss of cultural materials
SINGAPORE, May 29 – Singapore's Yale-NUS College student workers were reportedly instructed to deliberately destroy library DVDs with penknives shortly before the college's final cohort graduated, raising concerns among students and faculty about the handling of cultural materials. CNA reported two student associates saying they had not been informed in advance and were surprised when directed by library staff to scratch the discs during their shifts. 'I didn't feel comfortable doing so ... But the library staff told me to help her still as they were running short of time,' one student, who used the pseudonym Janet, reportedly said. Janet estimated she damaged between 80 and 100 DVDs, mostly international films, including titles from the prestigious Criterion Collection. 'It didn't feel right to destroy DVDs that were still in good condition,' she added. Another student, using the name Ben, said he was told the DVDs were being destroyed 'for security reasons'. He also scratched multiple discs before they were bagged and thrown away with their cases. The DVD disposal occurred as Yale-NUS prepared its campus for renovation and the upcoming relocation of the National University of Singapore's (NUS) law faculty and library. NUS University Librarian Associate Professor Natalie Pang said the disposal was guided by copyright restrictions. 'Audiovisual materials are governed by licensing and copyright regulations, which restrict redistribution,' she reportedly said, adding that DVDs which could not be rehomed were destroyed. The university did not disclose the total number of DVDs that were discarded. The incident follows recent controversy over the disposal of 500 library books due to an 'operational lapse'. The books were among 9,000 originally marked for disposal, though 8,500 were later recovered and offered to students.
CNA
7 days ago
- General
- CNA
Did not 'feel right': Yale-NUS students say they were asked to destroy DVDs
SINGAPORE: Yale-NUS students who worked as student associates at the college library said they were asked to render DVDs unusable by library staff in April - about a month before the final cohort graduated. Two of them who spoke to CNA on condition of anonymity said they had not known beforehand that they were to scratch DVDs until they were assigned to do so during their respective shifts. Both recalled using penknives to scratch the discs. One of them, Janet (not her real name), said a librarian had instructed her to make four cuts on the discs so they could no longer be read. The student, who is from the last cohort, estimated scratching about 80 to 100 discs or around two full shelves of DVDs. She said that most were films in various languages, including several notable titles from the Criterion Collection - an American home-video distribution company that gathers the "greatest films" from around the world and publishes them in various editions at the highest technical quality. While she said she simply did what she was told, she felt "really sad" and that it did not "feel right" to destroy DVDs that were still in good condition. She told CNA that she had not questioned why the DVDs had to be scratched but did ask the library staff if she could excuse herself from helping out. "I (didn't) feel comfortable doing so. But the library staff (member) told me to help her still as they were running short of time," Janet said. Yale-NUS College, which is scheduled to close this year, had been preparing for renovations ahead of the relocation of the National University of Singapore (NUS) law faculty and its library to its premises. Another student associate, Ben, who is also from the graduating batch, said that he was told the discs had to be scratched "for security reasons". He too made cuts on two rows of DVDs on a library trolley, though he could not give an exact number. The destroyed DVDs were later thrown into a big trash bag along with their cases, Ben added. Asked how he felt during the process, he said: "(I) thought it was odd but plausible given that the school library had some DVDs that were not intended for mass distribution or at least restricted in Singapore. "But (I) also wondered if we had that many DVDs that were restricted." Responding to CNA's queries, Associate Professor Natalie Pang, University Librarian of NUS, said the rehoming of audiovisual collections involves different considerations compared to books. "Audiovisual materials are governed by licensing and copyright regulations, which restrict redistribution. We have integrated the DVDs we need into our collection. The DVDs which we were unable to rehome were those which could not be redistributed," she said. The university did not say how many DVDs were destroyed. "PHYSICAL STILL MATTERS" This latest revelation comes shortly after it came to light that 500 library books were recycled due to what NUS described as an "operational lapse". About 9,000 books had initially been earmarked for disposal. Circulated images of books being packed into rubbish bags and loaded onto a recycling truck sparked an outcry from alumni and students. Around 8,500 books were eventually salvaged after library staff learnt of students' interest in them. The titles have since been put up for book giveaways. Associate Professor Andrew Hui, who had previously expressed to CNA his disappointment in the handling of the library books, said the destruction of DVDs left him "stunned and heartbroken". The literature professor, who is also a founding faculty member, first found out about the matter last Friday afternoon, after quotes and screengrabs of DVDs were circulated on a Yale-NUS Telegram group. "I've never encountered such a literal act of destruction carried out in peacetime, at a university no less. It was a quiet, almost mundane directive that resulted in a small but real loss to cultural memory," said Assoc Prof Hui. He added: "The manner of their disposal felt unnecessarily punitive - especially involving student labour. The act of scratching felt symbolic: not just deletion, but cultural desecration." He recalled curating a list of films during the early days of Yale-NUS College when the library was being built from scratch, and making an "impassioned case" together with a colleague to acquire the entire Criterion Collection. The head of literature studies added that streaming platforms were unstable, with titles frequently disappearing and algorithms favouring popular content over what is essential. On the other hand, physical DVDs represented curated, lasting access to works of global significance, he said. He described them as tactile and archival, adding that they often come with scholarly materials, commentaries and interviews. "For students, they offer a way to encounter the canon of world cinema as something preserved, not fleeting," said Assoc Prof Hui.
CNA
26-05-2025
- General
- CNA
Recycle or give away? How some libraries deal with unwanted books
SINGAPORE: As part of managing libraries, there is a system to review the books to ensure they remain relevant and in good condition. Unwanted books may be redistributed or recycled depending on several factors, according to Singapore's National Library Board (NLB). The issue of recycling books became a talking point recently after hundreds of books from the Yale-NUS College library were sent to a recycling plant before they were offered to students, sparking an uproar among students and alumni. The college, which is scheduled to close this year, apologised for an "operational lapse" in dealing with the books, saying it was unaware of students' interest in having the books. Two professors told CNA that they were not informed of any opportunity to claim the 9,000 excess books – duplicates or titles with low usage rates – that had been earmarked for disposal. NLB, which manages 28 libraries across Singapore, said it regularly reviews its collections, with various ways of dealing with unwanted books. "Generally, books that have faced wear and tear over the years, such as those with missing pages or have been extensively damaged, will be removed for recycling," NLB said in response to CNA's queries. "Books that are due to be removed such as older titles or those that can be replaced with newer editions, but may still be in relatively good condition, are redistributed to our patrons and community partners." Nanyang Technological University (NTU) similarly told CNA that outdated or older editions of books, as well as those that are damaged beyond repair, are sent for recycling. "Books of low usage are moved to storage but remain available to users upon request," said NTU. The university also noted the rise of digital learning as part of its review of its collection. "In line with evolving digital learning needs, NTU acquires electronic books by default for its libraries. This has helped the university manage the size of its libraries' print collection," it added. Such practices are in line with guidelines set out by the American Library Association (ALA), a non-profit organisation that promotes the development and improvement of libraries. The process of removing books from a collection is known as "weeding" and is critical to every library, it noted. "Weeding and collection maintenance are based on the availability of newer, updated resources or the circulation statistics and use of materials," ALA stated on its website. Books that are withdrawn can be donated to community partners for book sales, it added. If they are not sold, they can be disposed of at the discretion of the community partners. BOOK GIVEAWAYS NLB said over the years, it has donated pre-loved books to 130 local community partners and international institutions. These include schools, community clubs, residents' committees, ageing centres and reading corners at some organisations. It also organises an annual Big Book Giveaway event, where the public can take home pre-loved books for free. "We will have our 10th edition later this year, and about 60,000 books are expected to be given away then," NLB said. In the case of the Yale-NUS books, students and faculty had questioned why they were not informed of any opportunities to claim the books. "The issue here, for me, isn't that I didn't get a chance to pick up some free books as a faculty member, or that students missed out on that chance too," added Philosophy professor Andrew Bailey "It is that books are precious, and that it is a misuse of scarce resources to shred them." Associate Professor Natalie Pang, university librarian of NUS, said that while the library regularly rehomes books, the scale of the operation this time was "much larger" than in past relocation exercises, which typically involved only a few hundred titles. She added that the university will now implement a new standard operating procedure across all its libraries. The new protocol will require more comprehensive outreach to both faculty members and students before books are removed. Two book adoption fairs will be held - one from May 28 to Jun 9 and the other on Jun 14. The first is open to Yale-NUS alumni and families. The second will be open to members of the public. For any remaining titles that are still not rehomed after these events, NUS will partner with secondhand platforms such as Thryft to find new homes for the books.
CNA
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Yale-NUS library books disposal - an ‘operational lapse'
CNA938 Rewind Play The National University Singapore (NUS) has apologised for an "operational lapse" in dealing with books from Yale-NUS College, which is shutting this year. Hundreds of books from the Yale-NUS College library were reportedly sent for disposal or recycling, triggering an outcry from its alumni and students. Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman speak with Dr Sadie-Jane Huff, Editor at consultancy Superlative She, a former academic head librarian and one-time President of the Library Association of Singapore.
CNA
22-05-2025
- General
- CNA
'All of that work has just vanished': Yale-NUS faculty criticise handling of library books
SINGAPORE: Faculty members at Yale-NUS College have expressed disappointment over the handling of library materials after 500 books were recycled due to what the National University of Singapore (NUS) described as an "operational lapse". Two professors told CNA on Thursday (May 22) that they were not informed about any opportunity to claim the 9,000 excess books – duplicates or titles with low usage rates – that had been earmarked for disposal. These made up about 20 per cent of the college's library collection, according to Associate Professor Natalie Pang, university librarian of NUS. She said the removal was in line with standard library practices when books are not claimed by faculty or rehomed in other collections. On Wednesday, photos and videos circulated online showing books being packed into rubbish bags and loaded onto a recycling truck. The images sparked an outcry among alumni, students and staff. Around 8,500 books were eventually salvaged. The university apologised for the misstep, with Assoc Prof Pang attributing it to staff not being fully aware of students' interest in the books and the outreach to faculty not being extensive enough. "MISUSE OF SCARCE RESOURCES" Philosophy professor Andrew Bailey said he had not been informed about any opportunity to claim the books and found no documentation or communication offering faculty access to the materials. "The issue here, for me, isn't that I didn't get a chance to pick up some free books as a faculty member, or that students missed out on that chance too. "It is that books are precious, and that it is a misuse of scarce resources to shred them," said Prof Bailey, who has been with Yale-NUS since its inception in 2012 and will join the NUS philosophy department after the college's closure later this year. Associate Professor Andrew Hui, a literature professor and fellow founding faculty member, echoed the concerns. He recalled contributing hundreds of suggestions to help build the library's early collection, even before a professional librarian was appointed. "All of that work has just vanished," he said. He added that while NUS libraries occasionally hold book giveaways, they typically involve voluntary donations - not the systematic offloading of unused inventory. He also questioned the criteria for determining "low utilisation rates". "That is antithetical to the very nature and function of a library, which is to preserve cultural memory." Like Prof Bailey, he also said no library staff member had reached out to him with offers to take up the books. Both professors said they had received recent emails from college management noting that unchecked books would be moved to another library - but the message made no mention of offering faculty the chance to claim them. On Wednesday, Assoc Prof Pang, the university librarian, said NUS will implement a new standard operating procedure across all its libraries. The new protocol will require more comprehensive outreach to both faculty members and students before books are removed. Prof Bailey welcomed the move as "wise", while Assoc Prof Hui called for a more fundamental shift: "The SOP (should be) that you try to preserve as many books as possible," he said.
