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NLB teams up with Rakuten Kobo for new hybrid reading space in City Square Mall
Patrons will be able to browse e-books using Kobo e-readers at City Square Mall’s Sit-n-Read Node, as well as read pre-loved physical books. PHOTO: NATIONAL LIBRARY BOARD SINGAPORE – A new space offering people the chance to browse both physical and e-books was launched in City Square Mall in Little India on Oct 19 to encourage people to read more. In a media release on the same day, the National Library Board (NLB) said it has teamed up with e-book and e-reader provider Rakuten Kobo – in its first standalone presence here – to create a hybrid Sit-n-Read Node from Oct 19 to April 11, 2027. Located on the mall’s third floor and open from 10am to 10pm daily, patrons will be able to browse e-books using Kobo e-readers there, along with NLB’s pre-loved physical books at dedicated seating areas and reading nooks. The e-readers will offer readers snippets from a curated digital collection, in the hope that they explore new genres and content. If they find something they like, they can borrow the full e-books via the NLB Mobile app and continue to read on their personal devices on the go, NLB said. Pre-loved physical books are also available for all ages and can be taken home without borrowing. However, NLB said it encourages everyone to bring the books back, so others can have a chance to read them as well. This initiative is part of NLB’s ongoing efforts to promote reading here and build a nation of readers under its ReadSG initiative by making reading more exciting, accessible and integrated into everyday spaces, the board added.
艺联剧团推出双语小说《Kopi不Kosong》迎70周年
《Kopi不Kosong》中英文小说各首发100本。 （主办单位提供） 新加坡艺联剧团秘书萧稚龙出版长篇小说《Kopi不Kosong》，作为剧团70周年系列的第一序章。 新加坡艺联剧团原名“新加坡艺联剧社”，1957年6月11日注册为非营利社团，多年来由团员独立运作，成为独树一帜的华语话剧团体。2026年1月，剧团上演《Kopi不Kosong》舞台剧，由董思扬编剧。萧稚龙后将舞台剧改写为双语小说，英文版44章，中文版34章。两本小说的发布会定于2026年10月25日（星期日）在旧国会大厦艺术之家举行。 小说故事发生在中峇鲁一排店屋的五脚基。楼下是一家咖啡店，楼上是排练室，隔几间则是一家中医诊所。那些几十年来坐同个位子的老顾客，构成了这条街的日常。 谈及中英两版的区别，萧稚龙提到，有些名词，英文须另加解释，比如“五脚基”，英文须描述为“店屋前面那条有遮盖的走廊”。中文只三个字，脑海里就出现画面：阴凉、凹凸不平的地砖，靠在柱子上的脚踏车。 中英文版小说各限量发行100本，每本皆附独立编号。发布会内容包括作者分享，中英文朗读，现场演唱与键盘伴奏，以及签书会。现场供应咖啡、茶与咖椰牛油面包。活动免费，须提前报名。 2027年，剧团将迎来70周年。继小说发布会后，2027年3月将推出小型音乐剧《啡常人生》，由Dominic梦凡心编剧，故事围绕一家传统咖啡店里的一张圆桌展开，七段人生在这里交错：因酗酒与忽略家庭而离婚的云吞面摊主，妻子意外离世后独自把女儿带大的咖啡店老板，老伴过世后固执而敏感的退休老人，还有一名持工作准证的中国籍女员工，私召车司机，以及把整间店搅得人仰马翻的食品局官员…… 演出定于2027年3月14日（星期日）在史丹福艺术中心二楼黑盒剧场上演，分为下午3时30分与晚上7时30分两场，票价42元。70周年纪念大戏则计划在2027年10月上演。 ▲《Kopi不Kosong》新书发布会 10月25日（星期日）上午11时至下午2时 旧国会大厦艺术之家（1 Old Parliament Lane S179429，Gallery II） 报名联系：98774019（萧稚龙，WhatsApp）
More support for SMEs to adopt AI with new industry tie-ups, curated list of over 100 tools
The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced three new industry partnerships to provide such support to SMEs at the SMEs Go Digital Day held at Suntec Convention Centre on Oct 13. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG SINGAPORE – Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore can now get access to more market-proven artificial intelligence solutions, alongside practical support in implementing such tools in their business processes. On Oct 13, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announced three new industry partnerships to provide such support to SMEs. IMDA said it has also expanded its suite of pre-approved solutions available to SMEs, and will help firms cut through a crowded marketplace by curating a list of over 100 credible global AI tools covering business functions such as customer relations, creative content generation, workplace collaboration, and finance. Speaking at the annual SMEs Go Digital Day, Minister for Digital Development and Information Josephine Teo noted that smaller companies traditionally had to manage with less manpower, expertise and resources than their larger competitors. But capabilities that were once available only to larger companies are now within the reach of SMEs, said Teo, noting that adoption of AI-enabled solutions that are supported by government funding has grown by 20% from 2025 to 2026. At the event, 30 firms were recognised by IMDA and the Singapore Business Federation at the inaugural SME AI Impact Awards for having applied AI to real business needs and achieving measurable outcomes for their businesses and employees. Beyond adoption, the Government wants to support SMEs to make practical and meaningful use of AI, which is where the new industry partnerships come in.
新加坡文学奖短名单公布 郑泽榆陈建文以首部作品入围
陈建文（左）和郑泽榆以《追貘》和《龟心》入围新加坡文学奖，两本皆是出道作品。 （档案照片） 新加坡文学奖公布短名单，郑泽榆和陈建文以首部作品，分别入围华文诗歌组和华文小说／散文组短名单。 华文诗歌组有四部作品入围短名单，即郑泽榆《龟心》、何杉《这古老的两者》、伍政玮《错视与幻听》，以及语凡《海，吃人鱼与吃它的人》。 华文小说／散文组则有五部作品入围短名单，分别是黄凯德《404》、陈加昌《冷战与南洋：我的新闻人生》、海凡《落香》、谢裕民《我的游离性遗忘》，以及陈建文《追貘》。 新加坡文学奖短评指出，华文诗歌组的短名单作品，各自突破写作艺术与叙述手法，以写实魔幻、现代主义、科幻、AI等多元艺术手法书写，也创造崭新的书写领域，更深入创新书写多元文化的国族生活，具有本土性、国族意识、新南洋书写与后现代城市岛屿个人心灵的文学境界。小说／散文组中，虽然未见融合两种文类的新体裁书写，但参选的作品都各自具备小说或散文的基本形式与元素，其中有些作品更是小说或散文的精彩示范。 “整体而言，这些作品体现新华文学关怀面的多元景观，在个人与群体，族群与社会，时间与时代方面，都各有不同的投射与反映。其中一些杰出的作品，体现作者在关注各种命题之外，回头直面文学的内核，极力推进文学性，捍卫原创性，以文学为各种面向赋能，同时也以各种角度为文学添色。” 2026年新加坡文学奖将于12月3日（星期四）晚上8时，在旧国会大厦艺术之家的“Chamber”举行。文学奖得主将获得5000元奖金和奖座。
Eight selected public libraries to open earlier from Oct 5
Punggol Regional Library will open an hour earlier at 9am. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG SINGAPORE – If you are both an early bird and a bookworm, luck is on your side. From Oct 5, eight selected public libraries across Singapore will open earlier at 9am – an hour or two before their usual opening times – the National Library Board (NLB) said in a Facebook post on Oct 2. Four public libraries – Bukit Panjang, Sembawang, Serangoon and Pasir Ris – are slated to open two hours earlier, instead of at 11am. These libraries are located within shopping malls. Four other libraries – Bishan, Punggol, Tampines and Woodlands – will open one hour earlier, instead of at 10am. The Straits Times has contacted NLB for more information. To enter any of these libraries during the early-access window, patrons must scan their library cards, NRICs or other accepted IDs at the entrance gantries. Staff-assisted services will be available only when the libraries officially open at 10am or 11am, NLB said. Libraries here typically open till 9pm daily. There are currently 23 libraries that are open across the island, according to the NLB website, including the Central Arts Library at the National Library Building in Victoria Street.
新加坡作家节总监杨树宏：新加坡文学界对翻译愈发重视
诗人杨树宏具有计算机科学专业背景，自2024年起担任新加坡作家节总监。 （艺苑集团提供） 杨树宏自2024年起担任新加坡作家节总监，本届作家节是他任期中的最后一届。他观察到，新加坡文学界对文学翻译日益重视，而作家节的策划不但受到本地多语言文化的特质影响，也积极与多语言进行探索和互动。翻译在其中成为了重要桥梁。 回顾这三年任期，杨树宏指出，他在2024年推出科技讲谈系列，探讨科技对文学艺术和写作的影响。“这体现了我作为计算机科学专业毕业生，同时又热爱诗歌的双重背景，也反映了我个人的兴趣所在。” 他尤其关注那些兼具科学家或未来学家身份的作家。2024年的凯特·博汉农（Cat Bohannon）、2025年的刘宇昆都拥有类似背景。2026年，参与作家节的有新加坡作家拉朱·切拉姆（Raju Chellam），他既是小说家，也是人工智能伦理专家。而斯蒂芬·威特（Stephen Witt）和鲁哈·本杰明（Ruha Benjamin）的非虚构类作品也涉及科技议题。杨树宏希望今年能看到更多首次参加作家节的观众，尤其是来自IT或金融行业的专业人士，能前来聆听他们的演讲。 把每个节目想象成一首诗 在作家节总监这一职位以外，杨树宏是一名诗人，倾向围绕特定理念编纂诗集，再构思恰当书名。他说：“这种根据内在脉络安排诗作顺序，确保书中主题彼此产生有机融合的过程，与构思统筹各类节目，以契合当届艺术节主题，有着异曲同工之妙。今年，在策划节目的过程中，我有时会把每个节目都想象成一首诗来构思或打磨，这些节目汇聚在一起，便仿佛构成了一本名为《显而未见》的诗集，静候有心人去阅读，并从中领悟属于自己的意涵。” 展望未来，杨树宏希望母语和多语种节目能继续增长。在他的任期内，作家节为部分节目提供现场同声传译和翻译服务，致力跨越语言隔阂。“随着翻译技术不断提升，估计翻译的准确度和速度将持续提高，在未来让更多母语节目提供相关服务。” 他也观察到，新加坡文学界对翻译有愈发重视的趋势。新加坡书籍理事会积极通过指导计划和研讨会推广翻译，新文潮出版社和Ethos Books等出版商也积极从事翻译。诸如程异和陈衫娜等新加坡译者也在国际文坛上崭露头角。2024年参与作家节的韩国作家黄宝凛（Hwang Bo-reum），其畅销小说《欢迎光临休南洞书店》正是由陈衫娜翻译的。如今，陈衫娜已经翻译了10部韩国文学，以及其他华文和日文作品。 多语环境塑造作家节策划方式 杨树宏认为，本地的多语言特质塑造了作家节的策划方式。他说：“我们的英语、华语、马来语和淡米尔语节目，各自植根于所属的文学社群，不同语言所承载的作家、创作实践与关注议题往往各具特色，因此我们给予每种语言充分的空间，让其沿着各自的路径发展，并构建其希望传达的叙事。” 然而，这些文学世界之间也存在交汇。“同一个概念在不同语言中可能蕴含着迥异的意义。翻译工作在其中发挥着至关重要的作用。”他相信，通过译者的专业能力，能将各类文学作品呈现给原本可能无缘接触它们的读者。 杨树宏期待，作家节对四种官方语言和更多语言的探索与互动，能更广泛地反映新加坡，以至世界各地的语言表达、写作风格与叙事方式。
Singapore joins EU and other nations in call for control and international oversight of frontier AI
Singapore is the only South-east Asian country involved in the joint call. PHOTO: REUTERS SINGAPORE – Amid growing concerns over the risks of artificial intelligence in recent weeks, Singapore, the European Union and 19 other countries are calling for control and international oversight of frontier AI models, a move that was also welcomed by the chief of the United Nations. In explaining Singapore’s reason for supporting the joint call on AI safety, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in a Facebook post on Sept 22 that the country wants to harness AI effectively to benefit the Republic and its people. “But as AI becomes more powerful, we must also guard against the risks. And because these risks cross borders, effective safeguards will require international cooperation,” he said, adding that practical ways to build common ground and involve more countries must continue to be found. “AI holds tremendous promise, but it must always remain under human control and oversight,” added PM Wong. In a statement on Sept 21, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the joint call for control of frontier AI models initiated by Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. The declaration, issued on the same day, was adopted by the leaders of the EU and other nations on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York. Singapore is the only South-east Asian country involved in the joint statement. China and the United States, the global leaders in AI, are not part of the declaration.
新加坡文学奖首次公布长名单 10部华文小说散文入围
海凡（左）和谢裕民是2024年新加坡文学奖得主，在2026年新加坡文学奖中，双双入围华文小说／散文组的长名单。 （档案照片） 新加坡文学奖公布长名单，华文小说／散文组中共有10部作品入围，其中三部是出道作品。 2026年新加坡文学奖首次推出长名单制度，希望为本地佳作给予更多肯定。本届仅英文诗歌组、小说／散文组，以及华文小说／散文组三个类别公布长名单。 华文小说／散文组入围的有黄凯德《404》、已故陈加昌《冷战与南洋：我的新闻人生》、海凡《落香》、蔡欣洵《美美堂食》、潘靖颖《柠檬》、周凯莉《弱水》、谢裕民《我的游离性遗忘》、蔡素君《物化及其他》、艾禺《有熊出没》和陈建文《追貘》。其中，潘靖颖、蔡素君和陈建文以出道作入围。 入围者中也不乏熟悉面孔。海凡和谢裕民在2024年新加坡文学奖上，分别获得小说奖和非虚构写作奖。陈加昌在2016年凭《我所知道的李光耀》获得非虚构写作奖。黄凯德则在2020年凭《豹变》和“dakota”兼获小说奖和非虚构写作奖；同年的小说奖出现双得主，另一部得奖作品是谢裕民《建国》。 华文小说／散文组评审是本地学者、诗人游俊豪，台湾作家罗位育，以及中国大陆安徽作家、学者刘卫东。华文诗歌组的评审则是文化奖得主王润华、台湾诗人罗智成，以及香港诗人游静。 本届新加坡文学奖以本地四种官方语言分组，各语种均设有诗歌组与小说／散文组，今年共获156项提名。短名单将在10月13日公布。
Singapore arts guide (Sept 2 to 9): Malaysian Modernist Latiff Mohidin ventures into bronze
Malaysian artist Latiff Mohidin's first cast-bronze sculpture Burung 1 (Bird 1) (2026). PHOTO: GAJAH GALLERY Latiff Mohidin: Lines To Form At 85, Malaysian Modernist artist Latiff Mohidin is forging ahead into a new medium and unveiling his first cast-bronze sculpture. Burung 1 (Bird 1) was first made in 1967 at a smaller scale in ciment fondu and has been reborn as a 1.8m-tall bronze sculpture. The 2026 work, which bears the same name, is scaled from the original ciment fondu sculpture and therefore visibly bears the intimate fingerprints of the artist. Latiff’s abstraction of the bird here is almost childlike, resembling two cocked fingers and an open palm. The bronze work belongs to Latiff’s iconic Pago Pago series, a term he coined in the 1950s that blends the words “pagoda” and “pagar pagar”, which refers to the distinctive architectural feature of Minangkabau houses. It is realised in collaboration with Yogya Art Lab, Gajah Gallery’s foundry arm based in Yogyakarta, which has pushed artists like Suzann Victor, Jane Lee and Han Sai Por to work in new materials or at larger scale. Curated by Syed Muhammad Hafiz of Kuala Lumpur-based LM Studio, which is devoted to promoting Latiff’s legacy, the bronze work is presented alongside paper works. There are wetlands, forests, peat swamps and mangroves. Seen together, they evoke the stunning breadth of tropical forms. Where: Gajah Gallery Singapore, 03-04 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road MRT: Cantonment When: Till Sept 20; weekdays, 11am to 7pm; weekends and public holidays, noon to 6pm Admission: Free Info: str.sg/JP8Sj
《风油阿伯》绘本用新加坡华语为孩子上生命课
《风油阿伯》绘本具有新加坡社会及语言特色，为儿童述说生命教育。 （互联网） 用在地华语，为孩子说一堂爱与告别的生命课。《风油阿伯》绘本由郑婉妮博士创作、翁敏佳绘图，以新加坡组屋邻里生活为背景，讲述一名小男孩与邻居阿伯之间的跨世代友谊。当阿伯离世后，孩子面对死亡的抽象概念，从困惑、不安到逐渐理解与接纳。本书以温柔细腻的叙事方式，引导儿童认识生命的流动与离别的意义，同时通过气味串联记忆与情感，让思念以另一种方式延续。 绘本融合本地语言、生活场景与文化元素，不仅展现新加坡多元文化社会的真实面貌，也回应儿童在成长过程中对生命、关系与情感的提问，是一本兼具人文关怀与教育意义的生命教育绘本。 《风油阿伯》的新书发布会上，作者郑婉妮将从儿童发展与生命教育的角度，分享《风油阿伯》的创作缘起，以及绘本如何陪伴孩子认识生命与告别。南洋理工大学国立教育学院陈志锐副教授担任主持人兼对谈嘉宾，与作者从新加坡华语、儿童文学和在地书写出发，谈绘本中的“巴刹”、“安哥安娣”和“咖啡乌”等生活语言，如何承载新加坡独有的文化经验与邻里记忆。 报名费为5元，可在当日买书折抵。 ▲《风油阿伯》新书发布会 9月13日（星期日） 下午3时至4时30分 地点：草根书室（25 Bukit Pasoh Rd S089839） 报名链接：bit.ly/4gXyq44
Ancient Egypt takes over Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome for Lilytopia
Lilytopia at Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome. PHOTO: GARDENS BY THE BAY Feast your eyes on more than 7,000 lilies at Gardens by the Bay’s (GBTB) latest seasonal floral display, Lilytopia. Situated in the GBTB Flower Dome, it draws inspiration from the nature and mythology of Ancient Egypt and is presented in collaboration with the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Singapore. Highlights include the Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana, which are giant water lilies. These were grown from seeds by the GBTB team over the last 1½ years. Visitors will also find other plants closely associated with daily life in Egypt, such as the papyrus, which is thought to have been used to manufacture paper in Ancient Egypt as far back as 3,000BC. Anchoring the floral display are sculptures and architectural facades – look out for statues of Egyptian deities, including Ra and Thoth. Where: Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive When: Till Sept 27, 9am to 9pm daily Info: Admission fees to Flower Dome apply. See str.sg/mhEf for details.
London’s Goldsboro Books partners BookXcess to open outpost in Malaysia
Goldsboro Books has opened its first permanent international retail space at The Sunway Library by BookXcess in Bandar Sunway, Selangor. PHOTO: BOOKXCESS/INSTAGRAM Book lovers can now browse the shelves of award-winning British bookseller Goldsboro Books without travelling to England, with its first permanent international retail space having opened on Aug 27 at The Sunway Library by BookXcess in Bandar Sunway, Selangor. The Goldsboro Room is a compact 13 sq m purpose-built space designed exclusively for Goldsboro Books, echoing the look and feel of its flagship store in London’s historic Cecil Court. The outpost set-up – the first phase of the collaboration – will offer readers access to Goldsboro Books’ collection of signed first-edition hardbacks, exclusive editions and highly collectible books, bringing the specialist bookseller to South-east Asia for the first time. Founded in 1999 by David Headley and Daniel Gedeon, Goldsboro Books is recognised for its exclusive collaborations with publishers and authors, as well as cultivating a strong community of book collectors. The Sunway Library by BookXcess, the largest 24-hour bookstore in South-east Asia, opened at Sunway Square Mall in December 2025. BookXcess co-founder Andrew Yap says the company is proud to partner Goldsboro Books to make previously hard-to-access editions available locally. “When we founded BookXcess, our mission was simple: to make great books accessible to more people. Over the years, we’ve worked hard to remove barriers between readers and books, and this partnership with Goldsboro Books is another exciting step in that journey,” says Yap.