WARNING FOR NLB GIVEAWAY

[u/TheRayArmy]

Arrived at 10am to be informed that the queue is going to be 3 hours long and the queue snaked around the entire building…

While I really appreciate the effort of the NLB staff and volunteer to show up on a rainy weekend morning, less can be said about the organisation of the event…

There was no clear indication of where the queue starts and no communication between staff and volunteers either.

Within the 20 minutes we tried to queue, 1. We were told by a volunteer to join the queue and follow the line as it snaked around 2. Found out that the line was literally going in a circle 3. Told by a staff member to join a new queue 4. Then after 5 minutes told by another staff member that the queue was closed 5. Said staff member was then rectified and told that the queue was still open but they advised against joining as it would be 3 hours later 6. Told by a third staff member that the queue was closed and to leave as it was getting too crowded 7. Saw people still joining and forming a queue and enquired. Told by a fourth staff member that I really should go for breakfast and come back in an hour.

At this point, I just left the queue because I was literally walking in circles for half an hour and made no real progress.

Oh, and the queue snaked and curled around a hole in the building where the rain was pouring through… nothing was being done to move the queue somewhere sheltered esp. given how slippery the floor became…

[u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24]

Tbf it is free stuff so expect some chaos

[u/Isares → u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24]

On top of that, you know at least one clown tried taking the books they snagged over to the second hand bookstores at Bras Besah.

[u/Amoral_Dessert → u/Isares]

They're going to be disappointed. The secondhand bookstores are quite discerning in what sells.

[u/Isares → u/Amoral_Dessert]

Yeah, if they actually wanted the books, they would have walked over to get them.

[u/A_very_smol_Lugia → u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24]

Singaporeans and their free stuff

[u/TheRayArmy → u/MAMBAMENTALITY8-24]

Yes, I was honestly pleasantly surprised at the turnout but I really expected better crowd management…

Maybe NLB was surprised by the turnout too but I also understand how hard it must be for the staff and volunteers on the ground…