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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.
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.
