Libraries and archives will resume more services from 20 October 2020

Singapore, 15 October 2020 – We are pleased to announce that the National Library Building, our 25 public libraries and Oldham Theatre in the National Archives of Singapore Building will resume more services from Tuesday, 20 October 2020, with safe management measures in place to ensure that public health and safety are not compromised.

  1. We will open up seating and study areas in our public libraries, including eNewspaper and multimedia stations for our patrons’ use with a timed entry system and safe distancing measures still in place. We will also gradually resume public programmes, with the exception of guided tours. Patrons can check NLB’s GoLibrary (https://go.gov.sg/golibrary) for details of the resumption of our programmes.
  2. The duration of stay in our premises for each patron will be increased so that patrons can spend more time to read, study and work in our facilities. Patrons can visit the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library and regional libraries (in Jurong, Tampines and Woodlands) for up to three hours, and two hours in all other public libraries. We will also reopen the Study Lounge at Level 5 of the National Library Building with a three-hour limit per visit. We will continue with the timed entry system to manage capacity controls. Patrons are encouraged to make online bookings at https://go.gov.sg/library-visit-booking for their preferred slots.
  3. The Asian Film Archive’s public screenings of films at Oldham Theatre will have an increased capacity of 50 persons per screening for both the theatre and the atrium. Safe distancing measures will continue to be implemented for seating in the theatre and to limit intermingling between groups. There will be one to two screenings per screening day. Digital programmes will continue to be available for patrons. More information can be found at https://www.asianfilmarchive.org/.
  4. Safe distancing measures, capacity controls and frequent disinfection of high touch points will continue to be implemented in all our premises. Patrons who visit our facilities must wear their masks at all times. With programmes resuming, additional cleaning, sanitisation and ventilation of programme areas will also be carried out between sessions. In view of the capacity restrictions, patrons may have to queue and wait before they can enter our premises. Patrons can check https://go.gov.sg/library-visit-crowd or the NLB mobile app (https://mobileapp.nlb.gov.sg) for the real-time crowd capacity in our libraries and archives before visiting. Please refer to the Annex for details on the services available at our facilities.

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About National Library Board

The National Library Board (NLB) nurtures Readers for Life, Learning Communities and a Knowledgeable Nation by promoting reading, learning and history through its network of 27 public libraries, the National Library and the National Archives of Singapore. NLB also forges strategic partnerships that encourage awareness, appreciation and greater discovery of Singapore’s history through its rich collections on Singapore and the region.

NLB achieves excellence through innovation, focusing on citizen engagement and co-creation, resource and digital innovation. This creates learning opportunities, greater access to library resources, services and archival collections, as well as a continual development of innovative library spaces. Established on 1 September 1995 as a statutory board, NLB is under the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI).

For more information, please visit the NLB website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

 

Annex - List of services available (from Tuesday, 20 October 2020)