Boon Lay Resident Set Up Open Library at Void Deck But 2 Shelves Were Stolen the Next Day

Last Updated on 2023-05-05 , 4:21 pm

After spending months gathering books and shelves, a man opened a small library in his HDB void deck in Boon Lay. 

However, his efforts were quickly marred by the theft of two bookshelves less than a day later. 

The chairman of the residents’ network for Boon Lay View, Mr Hengster Kor, who is 42 years old, shared the news in a Facebook post on the Little Libraries Singapore group. 

It had taken him a few months to coordinate the library setup at 216A Boon Lay Ave, and he had spent three hours arranging the heavy books and shelves on 24 April 2023. 

As such, he was devastated when he discovered that all the books, including the weighty encyclopedias he had painstakingly transported, were gone. 

Mr Kor pleaded with group members to contact him and look after the books if they had taken them.

Spent Great Effort Setting Up the Library

According to Mr Kor, he completed setting up the library at 8 pm on 24 April 2023. However, the following morning, he was disheartened to find that two shelves had been stolen. 

He shared that setting up the open library required considerable effort. 

Thus, he was understandably disappointed at the act as many members of Little Library Singapore were also excited about the project.

Mr Kor, a financial services consultant, had conceived the idea for the open library at Boon Lay during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the project got delayed as he needed more books. 

In March 2023, he recommenced the project after obtaining enough books and shelves from neighbours and friends. He also received approval from the West Coast town council to set up the open library.

On 24 April 2023, Mr Kor meticulously sorted the books by genre and size and arranged them in an organised manner on the shelves. 

He had planned to transfer the remaining books from another block on 25 April 2023, but the book theft disrupted his plans.

Open Libraries in Singapore

Concepts for open libraries in Singapore void decks first got the public’s attention through a space set up by a resident in the Sembawang area.

These “libraries” are essentially open all day due to their open space concept and have no check-in and check-out services like normal libraries in malls.

Similar to Mr Kor’s initiative, the resident in Sembawang had set up a “Little Library”, which featured a three-tiered shelf stocked with a range of books.

The height of the shelves was ideally suited for junior readers to peruse. 

Residents could borrow books from the library or donate books to add to the collection.

Meanwhile, in the void deck at Yishun Avenue 11, visitors could find another open library with a vast array of books, resembling a bookstore. 

Three Yishun residents had set up the library, dubbing it the Yishun Superhero Library.

The shelves and tables were teeming with hundreds of donated books, spanning from toddler books to Enid Blyton stories, English paperbacks, the Malay version of Harry Potter, and wuxia novels by Louis Cha. 

Unlike the Little Library, the Yishun Superhero Library encouraged visitors to exchange books by taking a book and replacing it with another book.

Open Libraries Set Up to Encourage Better Reading Habits and Unite Community

Little Libraries Singapore and Yishun Superhero Library are just two examples of over 20 small libraries that have popped up across the island in recent years. 

These libraries can be found in various public areas such as void decks and HDB corridors.

Another library that has gained attention is the open library in Holland Village, which features a vast collection of books and cosy furniture. 

In August 2022, Ms Wong Kae Chee was inspired by other open libraries in Singapore and set up a bookshelf on the corner of Holland Avenue with a few books from her personal collection. 

Since then, the library has grown to feature 11 bookshelves and more than 5,000 books.

The people who initiate these spaces share a common goal: to reignite the love for reading among people of all ages and foster stronger relationships among neighbours. 

Their efforts have been commended by both citizens and Members of Parliament (MP) for keeping the “Kampung” sharing spirit alive

Open Concepts Require An Empathetic Community

Regrettably, despite their well-meaning objectives, not all has been a bed of roses for these open libraries.

Ms Wong, similar to Mr Kor, recounted books being taken from the library she initiated in Holland Village when it first began in 2022.

Ms Nur’Ain Chuni, who established her open library in the void deck of her Yishun Natura apartment in late 2020, shared that residents have also abandoned unwanted things in her open library.

This included expired snacks, toys, and garbage, which attracted insects into the area.

For open libraries like these to work, Health Minister and Sembawang MP Mr Ong Ye Kung advised that residents must take care of these spaces for them to become permanent fixtures. 

An empathetic community is required as these spaces are usually unmanned, with no employed librarians to manage them regularly.

Mr Kor echoed this sentiment as his efforts are voluntary and go unpaid.

Public Members Have Volunteered to Donate Books to Revive Stolen Library

While initially disheartened over the theft, Mr Kor shared that he felt happier due to the generous offers of donations of shelves and books from some people after he posted about the incident on Facebook.

He explained that setting up the library would give unused books a new lease of life. Therefore, people who selfishly steal books are not helping this cause.

As such, Mr Kor urged individuals to refrain from taking books from open libraries in the future.

He felt such actions might discourage people from volunteering and contributing to similar concepts in Singapore.