National Library, Singapore

The National Library traces its history back to 1823 with the establishment of the first national public library as suggested by Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore. It was renamed the Hullett Memorial Library in 1923, co-located with Singapore's first school, Raffles Institution, at a site now occupied by the Raffles City complex.^[4] It moved to a separate Library and Museum Building in 1887 under the name of Raffles Library as part of the Raffles Museum, before moving to the Stamford Road premises in 1960 under the name of the National Library of Singapore where it was opened by Yusof Ishak, the first President of Singapore.

Formerly known as the Central Lending Library at 91 Stamford Road, the collection was relocated to 100 Victoria Street and opened as the Central Public Library in 2005.^[5]

In June 2022, the Central Public Library was completely overhauled, and re-opened in January 2024 as a venue offering a myriad of learning experiences for all ages.^[6]

The lending library is currently home to the Children's Biodiversity Library by S.E.A. Aquarium, and also offers content on Singapore culture, literature and sustainability.

Previously known as the National Reference Library, the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library adopted its new name after receiving a S$60 million donation from the Lee Foundation, founded by Dr Lee Kong Chian. It occupies 7 storeys (Levels 7-13) at the National Library Building with a floor area of 14,265 square metres.^[7]

The current building, a 16-storey, two-block development situated in the city's Civic District, replaces the old National Library at Stamford Road, which closed on 31 March 2004.^[8]

In May 1999, Swan & Maclaren Architects won the tender to design the new National Library.^[9]

In March 2000, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan announced that that old National Library will be demolished and a new National Library be built on Victoria Street.

In January 2001, Malaysian architect Ken Yeang split from the design team at Swan and Maclaren, resulting in the latter losing the design contract.^[10] Yeang joined architectural firm T.R. Hamzah & Yeang and the new firm took over the design contract for the National Library.^[11][12]

The library moved to its new home on 22 July 2005, and was officially opened on 12 November that year by the then President S. R. Nathan. It is the flagship building of the National Library Board, bringing together the core functions of the old library by incorporating a reference library, known as the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library (simplified Chinese: 李光前参考图书馆; traditional Chinese: 李光前參考圖書館), as well as a public library, the Central Public Library, under one roof.

On the highest 16th level rooftop, there is a large closed area designed like a bubble called The Pod, used for functions and events. Although not a public viewing gallery, it has a panoramic 360-degree view of the city core and Marina bay area. The plaza on the ground floor has a cafe and is often used as an exhibition space. There are escalators on every floor, from Basement 3 to level 14th. The basement carpark has 246 lots. A number of old bricks from the old National Library building has been incorporated into the present building.

The main collections found at each level of the National Library Building include:^[13]

• Level B1 – Central Public Library Collection
• Level 7 – Business, Science and Technology Collections
• Level 8 – The Arts and Social Sciences Collections
• Level 9 – Chinese, Malay and Tamil Collection
• Level 10 – Donors' Collections, Asian Children's Collection
• Level 11 – Singapore and Southeast Asian Collection. Microfilms. Maps.
• Levels 12 and 13 – Rare Materials Collection (limited access, only with permission)

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  View from across the road
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  Singapore and Asian Collection, Lee Kong Chian Reference Library
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  Entrance to the National Library
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  National Library Building's "The Retreat"
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  Panoramic view inside Central Public Library

• Education in Singapore
• Environmental planning
• Green building
• Green library
• List of national and state libraries
• Sustainable architecture

Citations

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Library, Singapore.

• Commemorating the Closing Chapter of the National Library at Stamford Road
• National Library Board Singapore
• Lee Kong Chian Reference Library
• UNLV William F.Harrah College of Hotel Administration
• National Library of Singapore's Guide to its history