'An act of rebellion': Singaporean opens shared library in Bukit Merah where people can rent bookshelves

"If I die not opening a bookstore, I would probably regret it very much."

Those were words that freelance photographer Rebecca Toh posted on Instagram last year.

Fast forward a year later, what seemed like a distant dream has turned into reality, with the opening of Casual Poet Library on Monday (August 5).

Casual Poet Library is no ordinary community library, however, but an amalgamation of bookshelves 'owned' by individuals who stock them with whatever books they desire.

3 months to take shape

Rebecca tells us that the initiative was inspired by a trip that she took to Shizuoka prefecture in Japan in April.

There, she'd chanced upon the shared library carefully curated by individuals who rented the shelves, with the space watched over by volunteer librarians.

These 'bookshelf owners' pay a monthly fee to maintain the shelves, stocking them with books they enjoy in hopes that others will, too.

"We need something like this in Singapore," was her immediate thought.

A voracious reader since she was a child, Rebecca's love affair with books began in primary school, after reading a version of Around the World in 80 Days by French writer Jules Verne, she remembers. "It was like I didn't exist anymore; I was in the book."

And as an adult, it has been one of her goals to spread that love and joy for reading in others.

The speed at which everything came together was a huge surprise, even to herself, Rebecca told AsiaOne in an interview.

Just three months ago, she'd put out a call for like-minded souls who would be keen to put together a shared library—a concept that was, as yet, unfamiliar in Singapore.

Sure, there are mini libraries set up by the community at HDB void decks and condominium blocks, but this was slightly different.

An impractical idea in a 'very practical' society

To Rebecca's mind at the time, however, the concept would be considered impractical for most Singaporeans. But she couldn't shake off the idea.

"I think there are lot of things in life we can gain beyond money," she explained. "Like friendship and doing something that's meaningful."

Within hours of her post in May, hundreds of responses came flooding in.

"I really didn't know what to expect, because it's Singapore, right? It's a very practical [society]."

But the enthusiasm gave her the confidence to proceed.

"For a lot of them, it was a dream come true," said Rebecca of the messages she had received. "And I guess the concept struck a chord, as it did for me."

Rebecca reasoned that even if half of the hundreds who replied decided to see the idea through to fruition, it would still be a viable endeavour.

By the third day of putting out her social media post, Rebecca had placed a $10,000 deposit and signed the lease to a 450 sq ft space at Block 123 Bukit Merah Lane 1.

How she found the space was also serendipitous; a friend who knew about her intentions had alerted her to the shop available for rent.

Bukit Merah was also a location she had put a pin on long ago while dreaming about opening a bookshop one day. She was drawn to the quaint neighbourhood and its central, "yet not too central", location. 

"It was all really fast because I could feel that people really wanted this to happen," she said.

Preparations started on renovations and contacting the bookshelf owners for the 180 shelves available.

Currently, all shelves have been allocated and around 60 names are on the waiting list, Rebecca shared.

Bookshelf owners are asked to pay for a six-month lease upfront, with the monthly rental fee at $45. 

Borrowers would also have to pay an annual membership fee of $25.

No fear of failure

Starting up the initiative, some friends had worried if it would fail, said Rebecca.

Others were befuddled by why people would fork out hard-earned cash for something that won't have any capital gains.

Even random passers-by who popped into the shop expressed their incredulity at the concept.

"[The feedback] wasn't negative, but it's more like they didn't understand the logic at all. It's like, can make money, meh?" Rebecca recounted.

"Partners of the bookshelf owners would also ask them, 'Why are you doing this? What do you have to gain? It doesn't make practical sense at all'."

Turning reflective, Rebecca mused: "But I think this is the very reason why a lot of people are attracted to this idea—because it is an impractical idea in a place like Singapore."

"It's almost like an act of rebellion," she quipped.

She surmised that why bookshelf owners are drawn by the idea is that it's also an act of self-expression.

With every shelf, one gets to put "on display", in a sense, a part of themselves.

As Rebecca puts it: "Every shelf is different and every single one is like a journey of discovery. It's not just about the books but about the human behind the books. That's the fun part, browsing the bookshelves."

Indeed, stepping into the library and browsing through the shelves (actually more like little cubby holes), I felt like I was invited to take a peek into a stranger's psyche—oddly intriguing. Besides books, there are shelves that house other items such as CDs and cassette tapes with players, inviting browsers to partake in an experience the owners have created. 

Some shelves also display trinkets and items for sale, with payment based on an honour system.

Genevieve Ng, a bookshelf owner, shared some insight as to why others like her signed up immediately.

She shared: "I thought it would be a fun thing to do, to be part of something bigger.

"Casual Poet Library (CPL) appeals to me in two ways—one, I personally love reading; and two, it's an expression of sorts that reflects the desires and dreams of like-minded people. Often, things in Singapore can feel top-down, directed with specific end goals and 'sterile'. CPL is the opposite of that and to me, that's refreshing and exciting."

Genevieve has even invited her friends to contribute books and share their thoughts about them. She named her shelf LIAL, which stands for "Library In a Library".

"I thought it would be more fun to share the job of curating," said Genevieve, who describes herself as a "regular corporate worker" in her mid-30s.

But we had to ask: Aren't the bookshelf owners afraid of their books getting stolen?



There are measures in place to prevent this, says Rebecca. Unlike at community libraries, all books at Casual Poet Library are indexed and logged into a system. Borrowers are reminded to return the books within a month, though there will be no 'late fee' imposed.

For bookshelf owner Winnie Wong, 31, her wish to spread awareness about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition she is afflicted with, far outweighed the fear that her books might be sullied by careless hands, or even lost. 

Said Winnie, a modern Kintsugi artist who runs her own business, Gold & Behold: "As a recovering perfectionist, I'm not prepared [for that] to be honest.

"But I try to focus on the fact that books on my chosen topic will get a wider reach and inspire more people. I also wrote a little note on all my books to remind people to take care of my books!"

The life-coach is also writing a book on ADHD and plans to hold her book launch at Casual Poet Library next year.

Profit not the point

Unlike at regular libraries, Casual Poet Library will have longer opening hours, from 9am to 9pm daily, at least for now.

Volunteer librarians are rostered for duty for three-hour blocks every day. And one can volunteer even if you don't have a bookshelf.

To Rebecca, making money isn't the point of the library, as long as it is sustainable. This is why all profits will be ploughed back into the initiative to pave for it a longer runway.

"We will have to see what happens after six months because there may be people who decide not to continue [renting the shelves]."

There are also plans to hold events such as book clubs and free children's programmes for those in the neighbourhood, for which there is currently a crowdfunding drive. The fundraising will also help to cover part of the $40,000 startup cost.

[embed]https://www.instagram.com/p/C96_a4ySkBY/?hl=en&img_index=1[/embed]

But despite all well-laid plans, there is always the possibility that Casual Poet Library might end up having a shorter lease of life than originally hoped.

Some well-meaning friends had also warned her as much.

But as one who professes to be unafraid of failure due to her past experiences, Rebecca is prepared for that eventuality if it comes.

"It really doesn't matter [if I fail], because the worst thing would be that I didn't do it."

candicecai@asiaone.com