A Literary Loss: Yale-NUS Books Discarded Ahead of Closure, Sparking Outcry
A Literary Loss: Discarded Yale-NUS Books Spark Outcry Ahead of College Closure
The impending closure of Yale-NUS College has taken an unsettling turn, as hundreds of its books have reportedly been discarded, triggering widespread shock and anger among students, alumni, and the broader online community. A recent discussion on r/singaporehappenings brought the issue to light, featuring a video that left many questioning the decision.
The original post on the platform, simply captioned "Shocking," quickly garnered attention, with comments pouring in expressing dismay and demanding explanations. The immediate and most common reaction was one of disbelief that such valuable resources were not repurposed.
One commenter asked:
Why not donate them to library or give it away to those who really want it?
The sheer waste of knowledge and educational materials quickly became a central point of frustration, with many users articulating their profound disappointment.
Another user expressed:
Absolutely disgusting and disgraceful
A commenter passionately argued for the respect due to books:
No one should treat books so disrespectful, Whether you are out of business or not. Books are knowledge. Give some respect.
Amidst the initial outrage, some users offered theories and clarifications regarding the decision to discard the books. One user suggested that the books might have been shredded:
That’s why they have to be shredded
Another user hypothesized about the motive:
In order to keep the prices up.
This theory gained some traction when a commenter highlighted the high cost of certain academic texts, particularly medical books.
However, a crucial clarification emerged that shifted the focus of public criticism. A user pointed out that the responsibility lay with NUS, not Yale-NUS College itself:
Just FYI, this is not Yale-NUS’ fault. This is NUS doing this. Yale-NUS students were told the books were going to be donated.
Further details emerged, indicating that many of the discarded volumes were duplicates of books already present in the NUS library system. One commenter shared:
most of them were duplicate books from YNC that NUS already had in their stacks
Despite the explanations about duplicates, the general sentiment remained that more sustainable and community-beneficial alternatives should have been explored. A user remarked on the missed opportunity:
They can donate to any public library or schools to encourage reading among the young generations, but they chose to dispose them....
The discussion also touched upon the practical challenges and potential costs associated with distributing such a large volume of books. One user, contemplating a grand volunteer effort, acknowledged the financial implications:
Volunteers should have stepped up to find warehouse space, catalog the books and develop an online content management system to have auction or first come first reserve modules to distribute the books away in shortest time possible to minimise the cost of rentals and operations. By the way, who can foot the bills? Tax payers money? Please, we need the wealthy philanthropists to foot the bills… not public money to distribute less essentials.
The incident has ignited a broader conversation about institutional responsibility, environmental waste, and the perceived value of knowledge and education in modern society. While managing large library collections during a college closure presents logistical hurdles, the strong public reaction underscores a collective desire for more transparent, responsible, and respectful handling of academic resources. The sight of discarded books serves as a powerful symbol, reminding many of the cultural and ethical implications of waste, even in an increasingly digital world.