NUS acknowledged an “operational lapse” after recycling company workers were spotted loading bags of Yale-NUS College library books onto trucks on 20 May 2025, prompting immediate backlash from students and alumni.
Yale-NUS Books Disposal Triggers Student Intervention and Online Petition Campaign
On 20 May, employees from Green Orange Enviro, a recycling company, arrived at Yale-NUS College to collect bags of books from the library.
A Yale-NUS student identified as Mr Lee told reporters he arrived at the campus after receiving a photo of trash bags filled with books piled at the campus foyer from a classmate.
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“They were arguing with the other students who were there, basically saying, ‘You can’t touch these books. These books are slated for disposal, you cannot keep these books. They’re not to be donated, they’re to be disposed,'” the 24-year-old recalled.
When questioned why the books couldn’t be donated, NUS staff directed students to speak with the librarian in charge.
The bags of books, packed in white plastic bags, were stacked along the pavement at the college’s drop-off point, which is located next to NUS’ University Town in Kent Ridge.
Another Yale-NUS alumnus who graduated this year, identified as Mr Soo, estimated there were about 80 to 90 bags at the entrance of the Yale-NUS campus.
The incident quickly mobilized the Yale-NUS community, with alumni sharing information through social media platforms and messaging groups.
A petition on Change.org, addressed to NUS leadership, garnered nearly 600 signatures by 11am on 21 May.
The petition stated: “We express deep concern over the planned disposal of a significant number of academic materials that were in good condition.”
NUS Claims Short Timeline and Promises Book Retrieval After Public Backlash
According to witnesses, a librarian from NUS who arrived at the scene explained that the university “had no choice” due to a short timeline provided by the NUS law faculty and campus infrastructure staff to clear the library books.
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Yale-NUS alumnus Chloe Ang shared via LinkedIn that the books being disposed of were mostly duplicates to make space for the incoming Law Library. The collection ranged from brand-new books to out-of-print volumes and works written by faculty members.
Library staff reportedly claimed the books couldn’t be donated due to RFID security tags or transferred to other NUS libraries.
In a statement released on 21 May, Associate Professor Natalie Pang, a university librarian, explained that the excess books were offered only to faculty members, not students.
“We understand later that many students are interested in having these books and we would have usually acceded to their requests,” she said.
Prof Pang added that a majority of the books from the Yale-NUS College library had already been rehomed within NUS libraries.
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According to alumni communications, NUS College administration informed the student alumni club that they would attempt to retrieve the books from the recycling company for a future book drive.
“In view of the strong interest from students, we are now organising a giveaway on campus so that the excess books can find a new home,” Prof Pang stated.
The university is now “reviewing our process” and will “take proactive steps to distribute excess books to the NUS community and the wider public.”
Yale-NUS College is set to close this year, with its last cohort of students graduating in May 2025.
The college was established in 2011 and later merged with the University Scholars Programme to form a single new college, as announced by NUS in August 2021.
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