Our Love Affair with Magazines

Release Date : 10 Sep 2012

  • NLB launches quarterly exhibitions on magazines
  • Features debut issues from SPH Magazines and various organisations

The National Library Board (NLB) has launched a quarterly exhibition on magazines from 10 September 2012 at the Central Public Library. Known as iremembermagazines – Our Love Affair with Magazines, this exhibition is sponsored by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). The first of this quarterly exhibition features 32 debut issues in the four official languages. These were published from as early as the 1950s and include magazines such as Her World, Singapore Police and Goal which feature various colourful aspects of Singapore's history. They are part of the Legal Deposit Collection which captures local publications.

The debut issues on display include:

  • Her World (published in July 1960) is Singapore's pioneer lifestyle magazine for women developed by SPH Magazines. This popular magazine that stood the test of time, shows the changing face of women over the decades. The 1960 issue includes features on topics such as “Family planning in Singapore”, “What my country means to me”, fashion tips on dressing for campus, recipes and much more for the female readers. Some have grown up reading Her World and are passing on their love of the magazine to their daughters.
  • Singapore Police (published in 1954) is an 84-page magazine which includes articles on the experiences of our men in blue and the secret societies in Singapore. This is the earliest magazine to be featured in this exhibition.
  • Goal (published in 1973) features profiles of celebrated football strikers Quah Kim Song, Quah Kim Lye and “Penalty Kick Specialist” Mohamed Noh. The highlight of this inaugural issue is a centrespread poster of the Singapore National Team in the 1970s.

Collecting Memories of Magazines:

From 10 September 2012 onwards, visitors to the Central Public Library can contribute memories of their well-loved magazines at the Singapore Memory Project box. This memory drive will run for a year.