NLB should vet books early, at buying stage

I refer to the recent move by the National Library Board (NLB) to withdraw and review a series of Malay books for featuring controversial and sensitive content, and the views from the public about it (“Tap volunteers to review new books for libraries”, “Only right to review NLB’s vetting process”, June 14).

While Communications and Information Minister Yaacob Ibrahim has said that it is not possible for the board to scrutinise every book on the shelves of public libraries, I still cannot help but feel that we should endeavour to nip the problem in the bud.

This means that it is incumbent upon the NLB to start scrutinising the content of the books during the procurement stage instead of later, when they are already on the shelves.

Dr Yaacob also said that due to the volume of books it processes, the board relies on feedback from members of the public to alert it to any potentially controversial reading material in the public libraries. This practice of belatedly discovering and alerting the NLB of such materials is certainly not very productive, and also not prudent.

Removing the questionable titles only after procuring them and displaying them on the shelves is an utter waste of national resources.

Why incur public expenses in buying these books, only to remove them later? Is NLB able to get refunds from book publishers after it places orders?

I am not sure if the board is facing any manpower issues when it comes to perusing and vetting the contents of a book during the procurement process, but I agree with the letter writer that it can enlist passionate volunteers, avid readers who are adept at speed-reading, to help in this endeavour.

To recognise their efforts as volunteers, NLB could consider allowing them to borrow more books than the usual stipulated quota, or provide any other perk it deems reasonable.