{"id":10118,"date":"2025-09-02T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/?p=10118"},"modified":"2025-12-10T16:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T08:24:21","slug":"preserving-the-past-inspiring-the-future-keeping-nus-heritage-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2025\/09\/02\/preserving-the-past-inspiring-the-future-keeping-nus-heritage-alive\/","title":{"rendered":"Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future: Keeping NUS\u2019 Heritage Alive"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

When Mr Herman Felani bin Md Yunos first stepped onto the NUS campus as a political science major, he never imagined that two decades later, he would still be here \u2014 not as a student, but as a key guardian of its legacy.<\/p>

Now 42, Mr Herman is the Associate University Librarian and Head of Archives & Digital Preservation. But his love for libraries began much earlier. \u201cI was a library club member in primary school and later became president of my library club in junior college,\u201d he recalled. \u201cWhile most kids loved the fiction section, my favourite was the reference section \u2014 I loved reading encyclopaedias, maps and atlases.\u201d This early passion for information and preservation paved the way for a fulfilling career at NUS Central Library, which he joined in 2008 after a brief stint at the Ministry of Education.<\/p>

BUILDING ON THE WORK OF PIONEERS<\/strong><\/p>

Much of Mr Herman\u2019s work today builds on the foundation laid by mentors like Mr Tim Yap Fuan, a senior librarian who was instrumental in building the Singapore-Malaysia Collection. \u201cMr Tim joined the university in the mid-1980s and had a wealth of knowledge about our collections,\u201d Mr Herman said. \u201cI\u2019m still learning from the work he left behind.\u201d<\/p>

Thanks to efforts of Mr Tim and others, NUS Central Library houses rare treasures such as old Chinese newspapers like Lat Pau<\/em> (1887\u20131932) and Sin Chung Jit Poh<\/em> (1935\u20131940) \u2014 materials not even found in the National Library \u2014 as well as the Yeap Chor Ee Collection<\/em>, donated by the prominent Chinese banker who began his career as a barber in Penang. The collection includes items such as the share certificate of Ban Hin Lee Bank Pte Ltd \u2014 Penang\u2019s first local bank founded by Mr Yeap \u2014 and the Estate of Yeap Chor Ee Endowment Trust Ledger, 1952\u20131958.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Within NUS Libraries, the earliest-dated document on the subject of the University's origins is the \"Memorandum as to the foundation of a Medical School for the Straits Settlements in Singapore,\" dating to 1889. <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

MAKING HISTORY ACCESSIBLE \u2014 AND VISIBLE<\/strong><\/p>

Mr Herman wears many hats. His team not only collects, digitises and catalogues materials but also ensures they are accessible to researchers, students and the public. \u201cMaterials need to be described so that they can be searched easily by the public,\u201d he explained. \u201cText is still the main way people search for things.\u201d<\/p>

Digitisation has opened up new opportunities \u2014 NUS Central Library\u2019s 500 rare Southeast Asian materials, including the Edwin Thumboo Private Papers<\/em>, Chinese Newspapers of Southeast Asia<\/em> and books on Singapore\u2019s history and heritage, can now be accessed by researchers worldwide via platforms like Digital Gems. However, Mr Herman remains mindful of the challenges. \u201cDigitisation is resource-intensive,\u201d he admitted. “We can\u2019t digitise everything. Data centres consume a lot of power, so we have to make careful decisions about what to preserve.\u201d Beyond books, the team is also digitising photographs, old posters and cassette recordings of prominent campus lectures.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Mr Herman<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ARCHIVES
<\/strong>
Some recent additions to the library archives are particularly fascinating. Two of Mr Herman\u2019s colleagues travelled to Sulawesi, Indonesia, to digitise Bugis materials \u2014 including the Keris<\/em> instruction from the 7th<\/sup> century and a ship captain\u2019s log dated to the 1820s \u2014 which offer rare insights into early maritime trade in the region. Another meaningful contribution came from Ms Fenella Madoc-Davis, an Englishwoman who donated her late father\u2019s hand-drawn book on birds \u2014 created while he was imprisoned in Singapore during the Japanese Occupation. \u201cIt\u2019s not just the drawings but the story behind how he made the book under difficult conditions that makes it special,\u201d said Mr Herman. The library recently hosted a talk and exhibition around these bird drawings, engaging both the public and natural history enthusiasts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\"To
To mark NUS\u2019 120th anniversary, Mr Herman\u2019s team curated an exhibition for the University\u2019s gala dinner last July, featuring alumni-created creative works and commentaries, vintage student production posters, nostalgic campus photographs used as photobooth backdrops and in virtual reality and augmented reality challenges, as well as trivia quizzes. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"To
To mark NUS\u2019 120th anniversary, Mr Herman\u2019s team curated an exhibition for the University\u2019s gala dinner last July, featuring alumni-created creative works and commentaries, vintage student production posters, nostalgic campus photographs used as photobooth backdrops and in virtual reality and augmented reality challenges, as well as trivia quizzes. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"To
To mark NUS\u2019 120th anniversary, Mr Herman\u2019s team curated an exhibition for the University\u2019s gala dinner last July, featuring alumni-created creative works and commentaries, vintage student production posters, nostalgic campus photographs used as photobooth backdrops and in virtual reality and augmented reality challenges, as well as trivia quizzes. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
\"To
To mark NUS\u2019 120th anniversary, Mr Herman\u2019s team curated an exhibition for the University\u2019s gala dinner last July, featuring alumni-created creative works and commentaries, vintage student production posters, nostalgic campus photographs used as photobooth backdrops and in virtual reality and augmented reality challenges, as well as trivia quizzes. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

CURATING FOR TOMORROW\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

As part of NUS\u2019 120th<\/sup> anniversary celebrations this past July, Mr Herman and his team curated an exhibition for the NUS120 Gala Dinner. They showcased vintage posters from student productions and old photographs of campus life, offering alumni a nostalgic glimpse of their student days. A trivia quiz and possible virtual reality elements also added an interactive twist. \u201cWe want to make history more interesting and interactive,\u201d said Mr Herman. \u201cWe hope alumni can see how learning and campus life have evolved.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
From student to staff: Mr Herman holding a photo of his younger self at NUS Central Library <\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

A PERSONAL HOMECOMING\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

For Mr Herman, working at NUS feels like a full-circle moment. \u201cI\u2019ve basically never left the campus,\u201d he said with a laugh. \u201cThe library was one of the spots I was frequently in. Even during vacations, I\u2019d come down just to do personal research.\u201d He has a longstanding interest in vexillology \u2014 the study of flags \u2014 and heraldry, which focuses on coats of arms and armorial bearings. As an undergraduate, these hobbies often led him deep into the library\u2019s Singapore-Malaysia Collection.<\/p>

Today, one of the aspects of his job he treasures most is helping students. He fondly recalled assisting a student to print her exam cheat sheet before library hours and guiding another struggling polytechnic graduate on how to tackle university-level research \u2014 a simple conversation that led to a heartfelt postcard from the student when he travelled to South Korea. \u201cHelping others, I think, is the best joy one can receive,\u201d Mr Herman said with a smile.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION<\/strong><\/p>

As the library expands its digital footprint, Mr Herman remains committed to balancing technology with a human touch. By making history accessible, he hopes to not only preserve NUS\u2019s past but also inspire future generations to explore, discover and continue the journey of learning. \u201cHopefully, those down the road in the future will find these things useful when they reach their milestones \u2014 like NUS200,\u201d he said.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Check out NUS Libraries\u2019 digitised special and rare collections in the Digital Gems repository: https:\/\/digitalgems.nus.edu.sg<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As NUS marks its 120th anniversary, Associate University Librarian and Head of Archives & Digital Preservation Mr Herman Felani bin Md Yunos (Arts & Social Sciences \u201907) shares how he is helping to safeguard the University\u2019s rich history \u2014 and why working at his alma mater is both a privilege and a passion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":10120,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership","category-nus120"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10118"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12887,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10118\/revisions\/12887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}