5 ms·

Singapore libraries are really annoying for foreigners because they don’t let you use the WiFi. Thailand at least gives you a 1 hour pass. Not that anyone ask

by itake 13d ago

Singapore libraries are really annoying for foreigners because they don’t let you use the WiFi. Thailand at least gives you a 1 hour pass. Not that anyone asked but my ranking of public libraries in Asia 1/ Taiwan 2/ HK 3/ Thailand 4/ Laos (private libraries are cute, but hot…) 4/ Vietnam (Bring your passport!) 5/ Singapore I haven’t been to a library in Japan or S Korea. I tried working from a community center in Japan but I couldn’t figure how it works.

Onavo 13d ago
It's not limited to their libraries. All of their public facilities are like this. Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized. It's very much a classist country where you position in society is determined by your immigration status. Everything there is tiered based on whether you are a "citizen" (first class), permanent resident (second class), and you are in a permanent out group if you are not in the above two classes. And if you are a foreigner, whether you are a white "expat" or a Dubai -style indenture servant migrant worker. Valley tech bros are obsessed with that country but all that glitters is not gold.
- graemep 13d ago
  [flagged]
- ValentineC 12d ago
  > Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized. There's a FAQ specifically addressing this [1]: > If you do not have Singpass, you may still approach our pool or gym staff to buy single-entry passes. [1] https://ask.gov.sg/activesg/questions/clztixkjr00agracq0ys53ms4 https://ask.gov.sg/activesg/questions/clztixkjr00agracq0ys53...
  - joeblubaugh 12d ago
    Good luck finding staff willing to help you IME
- debo_ 12d ago
  This is also pretty funny considering how much of Singapore's business is related to sheltering the wealth of the rich from other nations.
  - joeblubaugh 12d ago
    A lot of those people are permanent residents.
- deleted 12d ago
  [deleted]
- oreally 12d ago
  > It's very much a classist country where you position in society is determined by your immigration status. Tell me, which country does not prioritize it's citizens first? Considering that at least the males of the country are forced to serve in the army in their primes, most of them unwillingly, I think you migrants got the better end of the deal.
- jimmydef 12d ago
  Citizens are conscripted into the military. They spend two years at the prime of their youth in the army getting paid almost nothing. And after that two years is over, for the next 10 years or so, they have to go back to reservist military training for several weeks annually. They also have to pass the annual military fitness test otherwise they will have to go back to the military to do further physical training in the evenings for weeks even if they have a job. Throughout their 20s and early 30s, most of them cannot even have long hair due to this military duty. Penalty of avoidance is military prison of 3 years. When they go overseas for work or other reasons for longer period of time, they need to apply for an exit permit from the military like a leash. When they go overseas for short periods of time, they still have to notify their military unit first. People die or get injured all the time in the army during their conscription period. And then you have foreigners coming over and complaining they are not getting subsidized services when they also pay tax. Why don't you first talk about the responsibilities of these "first class" citizens before talking about their privileges.
joeblubaugh 12d ago
They also charge a pretty hefty membership fee if you’re not at least a PR, and charge for physical book reservations. It was pretty shocking for me after the California library system. And I’m a taxpayer. Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income.
- orsenthil 12d ago
  Work out with a friend to share his library card?
- danieltanfh95 12d ago
  > Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income. No you don't, most foreigners don't pay more taxes overall per lifetime.
  - elil17 12d ago
    Surely the reasonable metric is per year rather than per lifetime given that adult immigrants don't use education and childhood services.
- radicaldreamer 12d ago
  For libraries, does it really matter who pays taxes and who doesn’t? Seems like it’s a public good that should be available regardless of ability to pay.
- oreally 12d ago
  > And I’m a taxpayer. Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income. Imagine being so capitalist/money-pilled it entitles you to greater rights than citizens. The citizens have made sacrifices for their country so people like you could work in it at top dollar. Don't ever forget that.
- ValentineC 12d ago
  > They also charge a pretty hefty membership fee if you’re not at least a PR It's $43.60 per year [1]. Thank you for contributing a bit more to the library's budget…? [1] https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/library-membership/types-of-membership https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/library-membership/type...
lanfeust6 12d ago
you might find this interesting - https://untranslatedjp.substack.com/p/japans-book-scene-is-quietly-moving https://untranslatedjp.substack.com/p/japans-book-scene-is-q... Japan's libraries allow cafes and bookstores to operate, which can increase traffic.
dailo10 12d ago
This has not been my experience as a foreigner. WiFi at Singapore public libraries is handled through Wireless@SG - it just requires a one time setup. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/facilities/wifi-at-the-library https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/facilities/wifi-at-the-...
- itake 12d ago
  How can you download an app without WiFi… I ran into this a few years ago. Maybe they improved it.
  - lmz 12d ago
    You get a local "tourist" SIM card then configure EAP-SIM. But I guess you don't need the wifi that much once you have the SIM card.
Markoff 12d ago
Why should library let ANYONE use the Wi-Fi? I am probabky old school when I think people go to library to rent the books and that should be the main purpose of the library, not provide some free co-working space for cheapskates. Sadly Prague libraries provide free Wi-Fi which is at least in one branch I frequent abused by loud kids playing videogames on their phones.
- awad 11d ago
  The ultimate purpose of a library should be to help with access to knowledge and information for all. In 2026, it's not unreasonable to think that includes internet access, eBooks, perhaps even desktop computers for those who don't have their own.

by itake 13d ago

Onavo 13d ago

It's not limited to their libraries. All of their public facilities are like this. Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized. It's very much a classist country where you position in society is determined by your immigration status. Everything there is tiered based on whether you are a "citizen" (first class), permanent resident (second class), and you are in a permanent out group if you are not in the above two classes. And if you are a foreigner, whether you are a white "expat" or a Dubai -style indenture servant migrant worker. Valley tech bros are obsessed with that country but all that glitters is not gold.

graemep 13d ago
[flagged]
ValentineC 12d ago
> Even their public swimming pools (not allowed to use them if you are a visitor, their digital ticketing system requires the local equivalent of a SSN). The official excuse is that it's tax payer subsidized. There's a FAQ specifically addressing this [1]: > If you do not have Singpass, you may still approach our pool or gym staff to buy single-entry passes. [1] https://ask.gov.sg/activesg/questions/clztixkjr00agracq0ys53ms4 https://ask.gov.sg/activesg/questions/clztixkjr00agracq0ys53...
- joeblubaugh 12d ago
  Good luck finding staff willing to help you IME
debo_ 12d ago
This is also pretty funny considering how much of Singapore's business is related to sheltering the wealth of the rich from other nations.
- joeblubaugh 12d ago
  A lot of those people are permanent residents.
deleted 12d ago
[deleted]
oreally 12d ago
> It's very much a classist country where you position in society is determined by your immigration status. Tell me, which country does not prioritize it's citizens first? Considering that at least the males of the country are forced to serve in the army in their primes, most of them unwillingly, I think you migrants got the better end of the deal.
jimmydef 12d ago
Citizens are conscripted into the military. They spend two years at the prime of their youth in the army getting paid almost nothing. And after that two years is over, for the next 10 years or so, they have to go back to reservist military training for several weeks annually. They also have to pass the annual military fitness test otherwise they will have to go back to the military to do further physical training in the evenings for weeks even if they have a job. Throughout their 20s and early 30s, most of them cannot even have long hair due to this military duty. Penalty of avoidance is military prison of 3 years. When they go overseas for work or other reasons for longer period of time, they need to apply for an exit permit from the military like a leash. When they go overseas for short periods of time, they still have to notify their military unit first. People die or get injured all the time in the army during their conscription period. And then you have foreigners coming over and complaining they are not getting subsidized services when they also pay tax. Why don't you first talk about the responsibilities of these "first class" citizens before talking about their privileges.

joeblubaugh 12d ago

They also charge a pretty hefty membership fee if you’re not at least a PR, and charge for physical book reservations. It was pretty shocking for me after the California library system. And I’m a taxpayer. Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income.

orsenthil 12d ago
Work out with a friend to share his library card?
danieltanfh95 12d ago
> Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income. No you don't, most foreigners don't pay more taxes overall per lifetime.
- elil17 12d ago
  Surely the reasonable metric is per year rather than per lifetime given that adult immigrants don't use education and childhood services.
radicaldreamer 12d ago
For libraries, does it really matter who pays taxes and who doesn’t? Seems like it’s a public good that should be available regardless of ability to pay.
oreally 12d ago
> And I’m a taxpayer. Net, I pay more taxes than a citizen with the same income. Imagine being so capitalist/money-pilled it entitles you to greater rights than citizens. The citizens have made sacrifices for their country so people like you could work in it at top dollar. Don't ever forget that.
ValentineC 12d ago
> They also charge a pretty hefty membership fee if you’re not at least a PR It's $43.60 per year [1]. Thank you for contributing a bit more to the library's budget…? [1] https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/library-membership/types-of-membership https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/library-membership/type...

lanfeust6 12d ago

you might find this interesting - https://untranslatedjp.substack.com/p/japans-book-scene-is-quietly-moving https://untranslatedjp.substack.com/p/japans-book-scene-is-q... Japan's libraries allow cafes and bookstores to operate, which can increase traffic.

dailo10 12d ago

This has not been my experience as a foreigner. WiFi at Singapore public libraries is handled through Wireless@SG - it just requires a one time setup. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/facilities/wifi-at-the-library https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/services/facilities/wifi-at-the-...

itake 12d ago
How can you download an app without WiFi… I ran into this a few years ago. Maybe they improved it.
- lmz 12d ago
  You get a local "tourist" SIM card then configure EAP-SIM. But I guess you don't need the wifi that much once you have the SIM card.

Markoff 12d ago

Why should library let ANYONE use the Wi-Fi? I am probabky old school when I think people go to library to rent the books and that should be the main purpose of the library, not provide some free co-working space for cheapskates. Sadly Prague libraries provide free Wi-Fi which is at least in one branch I frequent abused by loud kids playing videogames on their phones.

awad 11d ago
The ultimate purpose of a library should be to help with access to knowledge and information for all. In 2026, it's not unreasonable to think that includes internet access, eBooks, perhaps even desktop computers for those who don't have their own.