Information Literacy as a National Agenda:

A case study of Singapore

Margaret Butterworth, Curtin University, Perth, W. Australia

2

Singapore

3

Singapore

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Government Rhetoric

“The future belongs to countries whose people make the most productive use of information, knowledge and technology. They are now the key factors for economic success, not natural resources.”

Source: Goh Chok Tong, 1993

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Government Rhetoric (2)

“Our continued competitiveness is dependent on a population which makes a conscious effort to learn throughout their lives.”

Source: Ho Kah Leong, 1996

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Industry Types

• “High-end” manufacturing:– Disk drives; semiconductors, etc.

• Biotechnology• Financial services• Media and entertainment• E-Commerce

changing to:

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%of Population aged 25+ with Post-Secondary

Education

0

5

10

15

20

25

Singapore Hong Kong Japan Sweden Canada

% of Population

Source: UNESCO Statistical Yearbook, 1998

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Foreign Reserves

Foreign Reserves Per head (US$)

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000

Singapore

Hong Kong

Taiwan

Japan

S.Korea

U.S.

Foreign Reserves Per head(US$)

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit Country Report: Singapore,1999-2000

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Foreign Reserves

Country Per head (US$) Total (US$m.)Singapore 23,685 74,928Hong Kong 13,475 89,610Taiwan 4,144 90,341Japan 1,714 215,471S.Korea 1,120 51,975U.S. 262 70,710Source: Economist Intelligence Unit 1999-2000

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Gov’t Expenditure as a % of GDP

0 10 20 30 40 50

Sweden

UK

Japan

S.Korea

Taiwan

Singapore

Hong Kong

1992

1989

Source: Kwon, 1998, p.28

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Key Documents

• IT 2000 (1992)• Library 2000 (1994)

– www.lib.gov.sg/info/library2000

• Masterplan for Education (1997)– www.moe.sg/iteducation/masterplan

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IT 2000

• Creating an “intelligent island”• Wiring-up homes, schools, offices• Encouraging automation of

routine processes• Developing innovative uses for

technology• All sectors involved

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Singapore One

• Broadband network• Delivers high speed connection

• Slow to take off:– Not perceived to give value for money– High subscription– Inadequate content

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Library 2000: six strategic thrusts

• Expansion of public library system• Network of borderless libraries• Co-ordinated national collection strategy• Quality service through market orientation• Symbiotic linkages with business and

community• Global knowledge arbitrage

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Library 2000:key enablers

• Human resources• Technology• New organisational leadership

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National Library of Singapore

Source: Library 2000 Report, based on INTAMEL data

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Building Blocks:National Library Board

1 - one computer network2 - twice the staff3 - three times the floor

space4 - four times the

collections

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Expanding the Physical Access

• 1 regional library• 16 community

libraries• 41 community

children’s libraries• Renovated

National Reference Library

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New Types of Library

Shopping Centre Libraries Community Children’s Libraries

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Shopping Centre Library

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Expanding the Electronic Access

• A new target audience• TIARA- online

reference service• InfoXpress• Virtual Communities

– students, business, etc.

• E-station– franchise

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CD-ROMs

Allow wider access to historical records

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Masterplan for Education

• Encourage creative thinking• Reduce curriculum content by 30%• Integrate IT into all learning areas• Pupil-computer ratio of 2:1 by 2002• Staff retraining plan• Experimental pilot projects

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Overview

• Top-down approach• Awareness-raising or propaganda?• Gov’t builds solid infrastructure• Private/public synergy amplifies

the effect

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Conclusions /Recommendations

• Information literacy should be on all national agendas

• See the big picture• Find benchmarks & best practice• Make constant comparisons

Contact me at : margaret@iinet.net.au