60,000 Free Books Up for Grabs at NLB’s Big Giveaway This Weekend

Singapore’s book community has reason to celebrate as the National Library Board (NLB) prepares for its biggest-ever Big Book Giveaway. In honor of its 30th anniversary, NLB is releasing 60,000 pre-loved books on September 13 and 14 at the Plaza of the National Library Building. This also marks the 10th year of the initiative, which began as a way to extend the life of books and share the joy of reading with more Singaporeans.

The event runs from 10 am to 4 pm on both days, where visitors can pick up to 10 books each. Participation is simple: attendees just need to scan their library-compliant ID, NLB eCard, or request a QR code day pass on-site. Adding to the excitement, 60 lucky participants will also walk away with special prizes through a lucky draw, though details remain under wraps.

The collection on offer spans a wide range of genres, from fantasy and science fiction to mystery, non-fiction, and children’s titles in both English and Mother Tongue languages. This year, a dedicated section will spotlight works about Singapore, in celebration of SG60. For many, the highlight will be the chance to discover older editions and hidden gems that once lined the shelves of Singapore’s libraries.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Unlike previous years, which saw smaller events spread across multiple branches, the 2025 edition consolidates everything into one large-scale gathering at the National Library Building. Last year’s giveaway drew 6,000 participants, and attendance this weekend is expected to be significantly higher.

The Big Book Giveaway also reflects a growing focus on sustainability. Visitors are encouraged to donate their own pre-loved books during the event, with a cap of 50 titles per person. These donations, along with leftover books from the giveaway, will be redistributed to community partners and international institutions. To date, NLB has shared books with more than 130 organizations worldwide, ensuring that stories continue to find new readers.

For NLB, the event is about more than just giving away books. It is part of the wider Love Our Libraries & Archives (LOLA) initiative, a month-long series of community programs under the Libraries & Archives Blueprint 2025. This five-year roadmap aims to reimagine libraries as hubs of learning, creativity, and connection.

Image Credits: instagram.com/publiclibrarysg/

As NLB’s Chief Executive Officer Ng Cher Pong puts it, the event is “eagerly anticipated by many” because physical books remain a source of comfort and joy. I, for one, love the smell of physical books and still make it a point to purchase at least two every month. This initiative not only touches on the heart of sustainability but also encourages book lovers like me to donate pre-loved titles or breathe new life into old ones, rediscovering them as fresh stories.

Source: 1

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Everything You Need to Know About McDonald’s BTS Meal Comeback

McDonald’s is once again teaming up with global superstars BTS, and this time the collaboration goes beyond sauces and nuggets. The fast-food giant announced a new wave of BTS-themed Happy Meals that will come with exclusive TinyTAN toys modeled after the members of the K-pop sensation.

The collaboration officially launched in the United States on September 3, 2025, before expanding to more than 60 international markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Exact launch dates will vary by country, but one thing is certain: McDonald’s is betting big on the enduring power of BTS.

Image Credits: mcdonalds.com

The original BTS Meal, launched in 2021, became a cultural phenomenon. It included a ten piece order of Chicken McNuggets, medium fries and a Coke, paired with two limited edition dipping sauces. The Sweet Chili Sauce added a subtle balance of sweetness and heat while the Cajun Sauce brought a bold mix of mustard and peppers. Together, the combination became a viral sensation that connected fast food with global pop culture in a way few partnerships had before.

This year, the spotlight shifts to TinyTAN, the animated alter egos of BTS, with all seven members represented in collectible figurine form. Fans can take home Jungkook, V, Jimin, Suga, Jin, RM and J-Hope, each packaged as part of the new Happy Meal campaign.

Image Credits: mcdonalds.com

According to McDonald’s, fans will be able to collect two distinct TinyTAN sets. The Throwback Edition features Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook dressed in the outfits from their blockbuster 2021 collaboration with McDonald’s. The Encore Edition offers a new lineup of figures styled in new looks.

McDonald’s is also adding a digital layer to the experience. By scanning the Happy Meal box, customers can unlock TinyTAN Power Up, an exclusive rhythm game that allows players to tap along to their favorite BTS tracks. The interactive feature can be accessed through happymeal.com and offers fans a playful way to extend the experience beyond the meal itself.

Image Credits: providencejournal.com

Are you as excited as I am? With BTS commanding one of the most dedicated fandoms in the world, this renewed collaboration is expected to spark another wave of viral excitement and global buzz.

Sources: 1,2, & 3

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How to Use Your S$100 SG Culture Pass

From September 1 2025, Singaporeans will have one more reason to explore the nation’s vibrant arts and heritage scene. The government is rolling out the SG Culture Pass, a three-year initiative that gives every Singaporean aged 18 and above S$100 in credits to spend on cultural experiences. From theatre regulars to those who have not visited a gallery in years, the pass makes it easier and more affordable to reconnect with the arts.

The credits can be used for a wide range of experiences, from theatre productions, orchestra concerts and dance performances to writing workshops, ceramics classes and heritage walking tours. Visual arts exhibitions, cultural festivals and traditional crafts are all part of the line-up. Merely writing about it makes me excited!

Image Credits: supportgowhere.life.gov.sg

The aim is not only to reward those who already support the local arts scene but also to encourage more Singaporeans to try something new. The credits are valid from 1 September 2025 through 31 December 2028, giving residents ample time to explore. The scheme is open to all Singapore citizens who are born on or before 31 December 2007 and who hold citizenship as of 31 December 2024.

Redemption will be simple. Eligible citizens will receive an SMS notification in September, after which they can log in to the SG Culture Pass portal with Singpass to access their credits. Ticketing partners such as Sistic, BookMyShow, Klook, Pelago, Globaltix and Trip.com will serve as platforms to book events and activities. While the credits cannot be donated or exchanged for cash, they may be used to purchase tickets for family members and friends.

To support this nationwide effort, the government has set aside S$300 million to fund the initiative. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted in an Instagram post that Singapore has built a distinctive culture and identity within a relatively short time, and he urged citizens to make full use of the credits, reminding them that “we must all do our part to nurture this Singaporean culture together.”

Image Credits: unsplash.com

From pottery workshops to heritage tours and contemporary performances, the SG Culture Pass is designed as an invitation to rediscover and celebrate what makes Singapore’s arts and heritage unique.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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Ring, Romance, & Price Tag: Inside Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce’s Engagement

Travis Kelce orchestrated nothing short of a modern fairytale for his proposal to Taylor Swift.

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” Swift wrote in the caption of her engagement photos, signaling a moment that instantly captivated fans worldwide.

The centerpiece of the proposal is a ring Kelce designed in collaboration with Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. The dazzling stone is an old mine brilliant cut diamond, a style dating back centuries that Swift proudly displays in her announcement photos. Known for its squarish shape and distinctive character, the old mine cut features a smaller table, larger culet, and higher crown. According to the Gemological Institute of America, the style was common from the early 1700s through the late 1800s and is often sought after for its antique and vintage qualities. The choice perfectly aligns with Swift’s well-known affinity for timeless, nostalgic aesthetics.

Image Credits: Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce (instagram.com)

New York jewelry influencer Julia Hackman Chafé estimates the value of the ring to fall between US$250,000 (approximately S$322,000) and US$500,000 (approximately S$642,000), though the final figure remains undisclosed.

The proposal setting was equally breathtaking, designed as a lush garden dreamscape. It featured 800 pounds of greenery, 1,200 roses, and more than 1,000 additional blooms. At its center stood a 20-foot domed arboretum draped in southern smilax vines, moss, and layered with garden roses, anemones, lilies, and soft candlelight. Industry experts suggest the elaborate display could have cost as much as US$38,000 (approximately S$49,000) to create.

For fans, the engagement is a new chapter in a story that began publicly in September 2023, when Swift made a surprise appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game. She was seen cheering from Kelce’s suite alongside his mother, Donna, and celebrated as he scored a touchdown. The two left the stadium together, sparking rumors that quickly evolved into one of the most followed celebrity relationships of the year.

Their bond has since grown in full public view. Earlier this month, Swift appeared on Kelce’s New Heights podcast with his brother Jason. The episode shattered a Guinness World Record by reaching 1.3 million concurrent views on YouTube. It was during this conversation that Swift not only announced her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, but also offered rare glimpses into her relationship with Kelce, including hints that they now share a home.

Image Credits: facebook.com/TaylorSwift

Together, Swift and Kelce have transformed their romance into a cultural moment, blending music and sports  into a love story that resonates far beyond the stage and the field.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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How Small Splurges Sabotage Your Wealth

How do you stop yourself from buying things you don’t really need?

At first glance, a harmless splurge seems insignificant. A new gadget, the latest iPhone release, or another bag charm that costs less than a night out may not feel like much. Yet in reality, these purchases often represent a much bigger loss. You’re losing the wealth you could have built if that money was directed into savings, investments, or assets that appreciate over time.

Impulse buying is rarely about the item itself. It is often emotional. A rough day invites a reward. A good day feels like it deserves a celebration. Sometimes boredom sparks an online shopping scroll, or grief fuels the desire for quick comfort. Retailers understand this psychology well and they engineer marketing strategies to capitalize on it. Limited releases, fear of missing out, and aspirational advertising are carefully designed to convince you that your life will be better if you just own one more thing.

The problem is that these “little luxuries” add up. Think about it this way: that S$35 accessory might not break the bank today, but what if you invested that same amount every month into a market index fund or a high-yield savings instrument? Over the years, compounded returns could turn those bag charms into the down payment of a property or the seed capital for a business.

That is the hidden cost of impulse spending. It is not just the price tag, it is the opportunity cost.

One practical strategy is to pause before buying. Walk away, take a breath, and ask yourself how many hours of your life it took to earn that money. Then consider what the same effort could generate if invested instead of spent. When you reframe a purchase in terms of time and opportunity cost, the urgency to own it often fades.

Avoiding temptation altogether is even more powerful. I no longer go shopping just to look or browse online sales for fun. Shopping without intention is like walking into a casino where the odds are designed to make you lose.

The truth is that marketing encourages us to believe more possessions equal more happiness. When viewed through a financial lens, the equation is very different. Every unnecessary purchase reduces your ability to grow and secure long-term freedom.

You see, wealth is rarely built on how much you earn. It is built on how much you keep and how wisely you grow it. Learning to say no to unnecessary spending is not about deprivation. It is about redirecting your resources to things that create real value such as investments, experiences that bring lasting joy, and relationships that cannot be bought.

Dream big and pursue your ambitions. But remember this: wealth is not measured by what sits in your shopping cart. It is measured by the assets you accumulate, the businesses you build, and the freedom that comes from financial independence.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

The smartest investment decision you can make today may simply be this. Do not buy what you do not need!

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