National Library (Amendment) Bill

Bill No. 12/1968

Read the first time on 9th May 1968.

An Act to amend the National Library Ordinance, 1957 (No. 31 of 1957).

Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of the Parliament of Singapore, as follows: —

Short title and commencement

1. This Act may be cited as the National Library (Amendment) Act, 1968, and shall come into operation on such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint.

Amendment of section 2

2. Section 2 of the National Library Ordinance, 1957 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as “the Ordinance”) is hereby amended by deleting the definition of “literary material” appearing therein and substituting therefor the following: —

“ “library material” means any form of written or graphic record, including manuscripts, typescripts, books, newspapers, periodicals, music, photographs, maps, prints, drawings and other graphic art forms, films, film strips, gramophone records, tape recordings and other recordings on paper, film or other material and reproductions thereof;”.

Repeal and re-enactment of section 5

3. Section 5 of the Ordinance is hereby repealed and the following substituted therefor: —

“Functions of the National Library

5. The functions of the National Library shall be —

(a)	to promote and encourage the use of library material and information therefrom by the establishment of lending and reference libraries and mobile library services;
(b)	to acquire library material generally, and, in particular, to acquire a comprehensive collection of library material, both current and retrospective, relating to Singapore;
(c)	to collect and receive all books required to be deposited in the National Library under the provisions of the Printers and Publishers Ordinance (Cap. 196) and to preserve such books;
(d)	to make library material available for reference and for loan subject to proper safeguards against loss or damage;
(e)	to provide reference, bibliographic and interlibrary loan services to Government departments and to Parliament;
(f)	to advise on and co-ordinate the resources and services of Government department libraries and other libraries with those of the National Library;
(g)	to obtain and provide central information on the resources and services of libraries in Singapore;
(h)	to participate in national planning for all types of library service in Singapore, and to conduct research to determine library needs and possibilities;
(i)	to compile a current national bibliography and retrospective national bibliographies;
(j)	to compile and maintain a union catalogue of libraries of all kinds;
(k)	to act as the organizing agency for the national and international lending of library material;
(l)	to act as the organizing agency for the national and international exchange of library material;
(m)	to initiate and promote co-operation between the National Library and other libraries in the discharge of the above functions.”.

Amendment of section 9

4. Section 9 of the Ordinance is hereby amended —

(a)

by deleting the word “and” appearing at the end of paragraph (d) thereof; and

(b)

by deleting paragraph (e) thereof and substituting therefor the following new paragraphs: —

“(e)	the training of librarians and other staff in library work; and
(f)	all other functions of the National Library.”.

Amendment of section 10

5. Section 10 of the Ordinance is hereby amended —

(a)

by deleting the full-stop appearing at the end of paragraph (g) of subsection (2) thereof and substituting therefor a semi-colon;

(b)

by inserting immediately after paragraph (g) of subsection (2) thereof the following new paragraph: —

“(h)	prescribing the amounts of fines that may be levied by the Director for the late return of borrowed library material and for the waiving or refund of such fines.”; and

(c)

by deleting subsection (3) thereof and substituting therefor the following: —

“(3) All rules made under this Ordinance shall be published in the Gazette and shall be presented to Parliament as soon as may be after publication.”.

Miscellaneous amendments

6. The following sections of the Ordinance are hereby amended by deleting the words “literary material” wherever they appear therein and substituting therefor the words “library material”: —

Sections 7, 9(b) and 10(2)(b).

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