Dr Christopher Chia

By Sitragandi Arunasalam written on 2003-02-25
National Library Board Singapore

Chia, Christopher (Dr) (b. 1954 - ), Chief Executive Officer of the Media Development Authority (MDA) since 2004, was former Chief Executive of the National Library Board (NLB), former director of the Information Technology Institute (ITI), and founder of the Information Communication Institute of Singapore.  He was instrumental in transforming the library system in Singapore, including the introduction of a digital, networked and borderless library system using cutting-edge technology. NLB bagged the Innovative Organisation of the Year award in 2001.

Education
St Gabriel's Secondary
Wellington School Somerset, United Kingdom
MSc. and PhD in Computation, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology

Career in IT
Chia worked in various Information Technology (IT) companies in Britain, before joining the National Computer Board (NCB), Singapore in 1983. During his 11 years with NCB, he was involved in manpower planning, development and training of IT professionals and promotion of IT in the public sector including the implementation of the IT Masterplan 2000. He founded the Information Communication Institute of Singapore. He was also the Director of the Information Technology Institute (ITI) which was tasked to develop advanced IT innovations in organisations in Singapore. In August 1994, the ITI was conferred the Annual Innovative Applications in Artificial Intelligence Award by the American Association for Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) for developing an advertising layout system for The Straits Times.

He left NCB to join Aztech Systems, as vice president of its research and development division. He was only 10 months with Aztech Systems when he resigned to join the National Library Board (NLB) as its Chief Executive in September 1995.

Chief Executive of National Library Board
In line with the recommendations of the Library 2000 Review Committee, National Library Board became a statutory board on 1 September 1995. Chia was appointed at the first Chief Executive entrusted with the task of creating a world-class library system. Though not a librarian by training, Chia's vast experience in the IT field was instrumental in transforming National Library's operations and delivery of services.

Achievements
Under his stewardship, NLB made bold changes in the management of libraries and in the provision of library services, making it a more relevant organisation in the new knowledge-based economy. A new concept of self-service was introduced in the libraries for the first time bringing in operational efficiency, reducing customer servicing time and huge savings in terms of manpower.

IT was exploited for setting up digitally-networked libraries which offered users information in multiple formats including electronic databases and various multimedia services. An electronic library, e-LibraryHub, one of the first in Asia, was introduced. The Electronic Library Management System (ELiMS), the world's first to use radio frequency technology for lending and returning books, was introduced in 1998 ensuring S$50 million in savings. It was patented in July 1999. New services like remote user answering services, self-check machines, cashless payments and library transactions using SMS were introduced. One Learning Place came into operations in 1999 to promote IT literacy to all.

Chia was able to fulfill the goals specified in the Library 2000 report within the span of five years, using only a quarter of S$1 billion budget allocated. By the year 2000, NLB achieved the following: 1.8 million members, 25 million loans and 21 million visitors to the library.

Due to its innovative use of IT, NLB won the National IT Award in 1998 and the Innovative Organisation of the Year Award in 2001.

In 2004, Chia relinquished his post as NLB's Chief Executive to become the Chief Executive Officer of Media Development Authority.

Timeline
1983-1986 : Assistant Director, Software Engineering , NCB
Oct 1986 - Oct 1988 : Founding Deputy Director, IT Manpower Department, NCB
Oct 1988 - Oct 1992 : Founding Deputy Director, Information Communication Institute of Singapore, NCB
Sept 1992 - Nov 1994 : Director, IT R&D, Information Technology Institute, NCB
Sept 1994 : General Manager, ITI Holdings, NCB
1 Dec 1994 : Director, Research and Development Division, Aztech System
1 Sept 1995 - 31 May 2004 : Chief Executive, National Library Board
1 June 2004 : Chief Executive Officer, Media Development Authority

Other offices held
Chairman, CONSAL XI Executive Board
Member, Info-Communications Development Authority
National Healthcare Group, IT Steering Committee
Member, National Institute Education Council
Member, National IT Literacy Steering Committee
International Network of Public Libraries supported by the Bertelsmann Foundation

Awards
Mar 2000 : Friend of IT Award. By the Singapore Computer Society
Oct 2001 : International Management Action Award. Awarded jointly by the Singapore Productivity and Standards Board (PSB) and the Institute of Management Singapore.

Publications (selective)
Transformation of libraries in Singapore. (2001). Library Review; Bradford.
The personalisation challenge in public libraries: Perspectives and prospects. (2002). Gutersloh, Germany: Bertelsmann Foundation. (Call no.: R 025.1974 CHI)



Author
Sitragandi Arunasalam



References 
Chang, Ai-Lien. (2001, November 13). Innovation award winners announced. The Straits Times, p. 4. 

Leong, W. K. (1998, November 12). Newer books in libraries draw readers. The Straits Times, p. 37. 

Lui, J. (1994, August 2). ITI and SPH win award for use of artificial intelligence. The Straits Times, p. 7. 

Rajendran, J. (1994, November 12). Director of NCB unit to head Aztech's R&D Division. The Straits Times, p. 7.

Wee, A. (2000, March 6). NCS chief is IT person of the year. The Business Times, Special Section, p. 9. 

New system saves National Library up to $ 50m a year. (2000, August 23). The Business Times, p. 8.

Victorial Association for Library Automation. (2002). VALA2002: Keynote speakers. Retrieved December 19, 2007, from http://www.vala.org.au
(then click on Previous VALA Conferences > 2002 > Keynote Speakers).

State Library South Australia. (2003). 2003@Your Library. Retrieved January 9, 2002, from www.slsa.sa.gov.au/2003@yourlibrary/docs/2003@YL_No2.pdf.

Singapore Computer Society. (n.d.). Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 19, 2007, from http://www.scs.org.sg (then click on IT LEADER AWARDS > Past Winners > Award Winners 2000).

Australian Library and Information Association. (n.d.). ALIA 2002 Speaker Biographies. Retrieved December 19, 2007, from http://conferences.alia.org.au (then click on 2002 > Speakers).  

National Library Board. (n.d.).  Annual Report 2003/2004.  Retrieved December 19, 2007, from http://www.nlb.gov.sg (then click on About NLB > Annual Report > FY 2003 Annual Report)

Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. (2004, February 18). Media Development Authority Appoints New CEO. Retrieved December 19, 2007, from http://www.mica.gov.sg (then click on MICA News > Press Releases > 2004 > Media Development Authority Appoints New CEO).



Further Readings
Blocksidge, D. (March 2000). People: Dr. Tan Chin Nam, Dr. Christopher Chia. Asia Library News, 3(1).
(Call no.: R 027.05 ALN)

Hallowell, R. (2001). Transforming Singapore's public libraries. Boston: Mass Business School.
(Call no.: RSING 027.45957 HAL)

Yeoh, J. (1999). Books to bytes: Journeying with the National Library. Singapore: National Library Board.
(Call no.: RSING 027.095957 BOO)

National Library Board. (1997-). Annual reports. Singapore: NLB.
(Call no.: RSING 027.05957 SNLBAR)

National Library Board.  (1999).  National Library Board. Singapore: National Library Board Singapore
(Call no.: R 027.55957 SIN)

Buckell, J. (2002, May 22). Cybrary superhero. The Australian, p. 29.

Tan, C. (1998, November 13). National Library chief executive is a techie. The Business Times, p. 16.

Aztech's head of research resigns. (1995, August 19). The Business Times, p. 6. 



The information in this article is valid as at 2007 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.



Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Community Leaders
Chief executive officers--Singapore
Library administration--Singapore
Law and government>>Culture and community>>Public libraries
Science and technology>>Library and information science>>Library and information services



All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2004.