When you can read almost anything, anywhere, without spending a bomb

Thanks to the hard work that my mother put into it when I was young, I have always been an avid reader. I still remember following her around our garden and having to tell her the summary of the latest book I read. She, of course, made sure I didn’t check the synopsis and actually read the entire book. A few years later, at 8 years old, I had to go to boarding school. And at the time of my arrival, I was the younger boarder and, as you can imagine, rather nervous around the older students. As a result, I started reading even more. I became the girl who carried a book everywhere she went and would often be the one hiding a book under the canteen table reading in order not to deal with the outside world. Till this day, I always carry something to read with me.

Reading to me is like how running is for others. Not only does it help me escape everyday stress but I really enjoy absorbing new knowledge. Put anything in front me with a text and I will read it and yes that includes the back of cereal boxes or the shampoo bottle in the shower.

Over the years and numerous moves thereafter, I realised that books were taking lots of physical space in our home as well as in my suitcases - especially when traveling. While I’ve never really counted the amount I’ve spent over the years on books, I did realise recently that it was adding up fast. I am not saying you should watch your spending when it comes to acquiring new knowledge but that I totally understand how that can be a consideration at times.

Since 2010, I have been reading digitally, thanks to the Kindle as well as the iPad. But I still purchase physical books here and there. I also rarely re-read a book (though I should give it a try). I mainly enjoy surrounding myself with the books that I know I can refer to when I need them.

So, in my quest of getting more books during the lockdown for both myself and, more importantly, for my daughter, I came across the National Library Board app. Discovering the National Library Board app felt like a HURRAY moment, Not only all the books I’ve wanted to read are there but wait till you hear the best part - It is FREE for all Singaporeans ($10.50/year for PR and $50/year for foreigners). You can borrow up to 16 different publications at any given time for 21 days each. The National Library Board app offers books, audiobooks as well as magazines.

SIMPLE SETUP

1. Create an account on the site using your Singpass

2. Download Libby App or the Overdrive App on your devices (available for iOS and Android OS)

3. Start borrowing

4. Enjoy reading it on any of your devices.

Now, every time I come across a reading recommendation, I head straight to the National Library Board app to see if it is available and most of the times it is. Which shows you how good the offering is.

Since I joined a year ago I have naturally developed a routine around it in order to make the best of this amazing knowledge treasure trove.

WHAT I DOWNLOAD?

(In alphabetical order)

AUDIOBOOKS - Prior to using the National Library app, I never downloaded Audiobooks. It was something I always wanted to try but never had the time to do so. Since joining, I have listen to many Audiobooks and I am enjoying the medium only for certain type of books. I have also listened to a book and then went ahead and dowloaded the Ebook as I felt I will get more out of it from reading it. I found that not every book is made to be an Audio one and I am still refining the rules of what makes a great one.

COOKBOOKS - I know that cookbooks are books but I thought they deserve a special mention because I had no idea you could download cookbooks.

EBOOKS - I always set a number of books I would like to read per year and often fail. However, this year thanks to the National Library Board app I will reach my goal primarily because it is so easy to pick one from the App and get reading. There is a great recommendation section that makes it easier in case you have no idea what to pick and there is even one section dedicated to kids only.

MAGAZINES- Less going out and traveling in the past 2 years means less magazines in our home. That is, until the National Library Board app came. I really appreciate the fact that there is a wide range of local and international magazines, as well as those for kids. My daughter especially enjoys the Minecraft one, while I have finally been enjoying reading The Economist in fonts that don’t give me a headache, skipping easily the ads in the Lifestyle ones. Last but not least, my bank account is definitely healthier looking.

I KEEP A WISHLIST

I often come across reading recommendations whether it is through friends or other readings/podcasts. In the past, I used to keep various lists on different channels and, of course, will forget where I kept them. Now I directly go on the National Library app and place it on my wishlist section if it is not available which can happenI keep them on a Note on my phone to comeback to it later. The small difficulty that I am still trying to figure out is whether I want them as an Ebook or Audiobook?

HOW DO I MAXIMISE MY TIME?

Just like physical reading, I do have a tendency to get more that I can chew and hence I have devised a plan to help me achieve my reading goals.

I pick one audiobook that I will play in the morning when I am getting ready for work - which means an average of 45 minutes of “audio’ reading” which can follow me when I am out and about and have few minutes to spare.

Book reading is kept to night time which guarantees me to not spend endless hours on YouTube. To make sure that it does not happen, I transfer my books on a Kobo* tablet, so no interruption guaranteed. ( I did switch to the Kobo because the National Library App is sadly not Kindle-compatible)

As for magazines I keep those exclusively to the weekend when I know that my brain is saturated but I still want entertainment that I chose.

As for the cookbooks they are more like the magazines. I keep them for the weekend and it is more about browsing them and see if I would like to purchase them. I enjoy the fact that I have 21 days to make a decision by testing few recipes. As a result, I also discovered few cookbooks that deserve to be gifts to some foodies around me.

I am certain that there is more to the National Library app and that I am barely scratching the surface here.

If you are user and think I have missed something, please let me know in the comment section.

For those of you residing outside Singapore I believe that this kind of App is available in conjunction with your local library system. In the case of the US, the books you can borrow are compatible with Kindle.